Author: Momo Chan

My mate—Alpha Jasper—knelt on one knee, proposing to me at my birthday party when Sienna Burrows suddenly appeared. She was his fated mate once. His first love. Dressed in the exact same backless red gown I was wearing, she stood there like a queen, regal and untouchable. She let out a soft, mocking laugh. “Hah. Alpha Jasper, no matter how perfect a copy may be, it will never be me.” Alpha Jasper didn’t even spare her a glance. Instead, he turned to me, gently taking my left hand in his. His voice was deep, filled with emotion. “Cynthia, will you marry me?” But even as he spoke, I could see it clearly—the flicker of something else in his eyes. And the hand holding the ring? It was trembling. I admit it—the moment Alpha Jasper knelt on one knee, my heart skipped a beat. But now, all I feel is confusion. I don’t understand why Sienna Burrows is here, nor why she’s wearing the exact same red gown as me. Sienna Burrows—Alpha Jasper’s ex-girlfriend and his once-destined mate. My wolf stirred uneasily. She never liked Sienna. “Cynthia.” Alpha Jasper’s voice brought me back to reality. I swallowed, forcing myself to focus on him rather than the seething growl bubbling in my chest. “I…” I’d secretly admired Alpha Jasper for two years, dated him for three, and spent five years dreaming of this very moment. Yet, in every version of my fantasies, Sienna was never supposed to be part of the picture. Faced with Alpha Jasper and the intricate ring in his hand, I opened my mouth but found myself speechless, courage nowhere to be found. When I didn’t immediately answer, Jasper raised his eyes to meet mine, a rare flicker of pleading and vulnerability in his usually impassive gaze. “Cynthia, will you marry me?” My wolf whimpered. The mate bond between us wasn’t strong—not like what he’d once shared with Sienna. In that instant, my heart softened. My human side wanted this. Wanted him. “Jasper, I…” I steadied my voice, trying to hide the tremor. “I will.” The moment those words left my lips, cheers erupted from the friends who had gathered for the birthday party. Rose petals rained down on us, the scene unfolding as if plucked straight from a dream. Except for one detail: Sienna stood just a few feet away, arms crossed, a cold smirk playing on her lips. “I will? How ridiculous,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain. With confident strides, Sienna made her way over, her heels clicking against the floor. She carried herself as though she were the one being proposed to, gracefully taking a seat without so much as an invitation. Her red gown was identical to mine. Her mid-length curls, the color of her hair, even her deep red lipstick—everything mirrored me. Yet, under the lights, her bold makeup enhanced her striking blue eyes and radiant beauty, making her appear nothing short of breathtaking. But the look she directed at me? Pure contempt. I pursed my lips. Unlike Sienna, I wasn’t the seductive, attention-grabbing type. My wolf bristled, feeling the weight of the comparison. I had always been more of the steady kind—the quiet presence beside Alpha Jasper, not the storm that shook his world. Her gaze was searing, as if she were looking at a cheap imitation, a clumsy replica that failed to capture the original’s brilliance. In the midst of the awkward atmosphere, Alpha Jasper’s friends stood up first, clapping and cheering loudly to shift the focus. “Jasper, you finally did it! We were starting to think you’d never propose!” one of them exclaimed, raising a glass in celebration. “Finally?” Sienna clapped along, her sly smile as sharp as a blade. She lifted her glass gracefully, exuding elegance. “Jasper, do you really think your proposal was a success?” “This has nothing to do with you,” Alpha Jasper cut her off, his tone laced with irritation. He cast her a cold glance before pulling me to sit down beside him, avoiding her gaze like it burned. Sienna’s seat was strategically placed—perhaps intentionally or maybe just coincidence—directly across from ours. Everything about her—her poised gestures, her effortless charm—drew attention. Even when she leaned over to whisper something to the person beside her, her radiant smile lit up her face, turning her into a masterpiece under the golden lights. Her casual movements, like resting her manicured fingers on the edge of the table, sent dazzling reflections of light from her nails that stung my eyes. And suddenly, I understood why her gaze was so condescending. It was laughable, really. Even dressed like her, with the same hairstyle and color, I lacked her bold confidence and magnetic allure. The phrase “trying too hard” echoed in my mind. My wolf growled softly, unsettled. She didn’t like how this felt. The red gown felt suffocating, the makeup on my face as heavy as a mask. Unable to meet Sienna’s gaze, I turned to Alpha Jasper and whispered, “Why did you give me this dress?” I’d never liked bold styles. This gown was something I wouldn’t have glanced at twice on any other day. Yet, this morning, Alpha Jasper had handed me a beautifully wrapped box, his expression laced with anticipation as he urged me to wear it. “…Because,” Alpha Jasper paused, lowering his eyes for a moment, “I thought it would suit you.” Suit me? Really? My wolf scoffed. It suited Sienna more. I stared at him, speechless, a strange mix of emotions swirling in my chest. My temples throbbed, and my throat felt tight with unspoken words. And then, without warning, my mind wandered back to that Saturday a few weeks ago.

That day, my best friend Eileen stumbled across a recommended hairstyle video on her phone. She insisted she was tired of my long, straight black hair and, dragged me to the salon. The poor stylist barely had time to blink before Eileen was waving the phone in front of her face, declaring that I needed a “refresh.” And just like that, years of my familiar locks were snipped away, dyed a golden shade I never would’ve chosen myself. In the afternoon, I met with Alpha Jasper. The moment he saw me, something flickered across his face—surprise, confusion, something else I couldn’t quite place. His eyes locked onto me, but his gaze felt distant, as if he were looking through me, at something—or someone—else entirely. Frowning, I waved a hand in front of his face. “Earth to Jasper. What’s on your mind? You’re zoning out. Which movie are we watching later?” “I was just thinking,” Alpha Jasper said slowly, refocusing on me. His hand lifted, brushing over the top of my head, the touch lingering just a second too long. “This hairstyle… it suits you.” The warmth in his voice sent a delighted shiver through me. That night, I clung to Eileen, gushing about it for hours. But now, as I sat at my birthday dinner, wrapped in the red dress Alpha Jasper had gifted me, I wasn’t feeling as certain. This morning, when he handed me the box, my heart had fluttered at the sight of the deep red YSL lipstick inside. Next to it was a small note, Alpha Jasper’s usually neat handwriting slightly rushed, two tiny hearts sketched at the bottom. Honestly, the moment I pulled out the dress, my first instinct had been to refuse. I shook my head, already picturing myself in the French-style dress my mom had given me—white, lace embellishments, delicate and soft, much more my style. But then Alpha Jasper had cupped my cheek, his thumb grazing my skin, and his eyes—usually so unreadable—held something almost pleading. “Just this once, okay? Cynthia, just for today—wear it for me?” Alpha Jasper wasn’t the type to beg. Whether at university or the packhouse, he was always distant, unreadable. Girls admired him but never dared to confess. I had been the same, crushing on him for two silent years. Even after we got together, Alpha Jasper remained restrained. A fleeting hug, a chaste kiss—his affections were subtle, controlled. But today, when I stepped out in that red dress, Alpha Jasper had reacted differently. He had shot up from his chair like he’d been struck. His gaze burned as it raked over me, raw and unguarded. Then, in a blur of movement, he had me in his arms, his lips crashing onto mine in a kiss unlike any before—intense, desperate, utterly possessive. My wolf had purred in satisfaction, but I was left reeling. Now, seated at the dinner table, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. Alpha Jasper plucked a piece of chicken from the platter, carefully removed the skin—he knew I didn’t like it—then blew on it lightly before placing it onto my plate. My heart swelled at the familiar gesture. He still cares. He still— And then I looked across the table. Sienna. The man who had been laughing and chatting with her earlier was now carefully picking the green peppers out of her dish, the same way Alpha Jasper had done for me. Sienna sat there, completely at ease, batting her thick lashes as she cast a glance in our direction—deliberate, smug.

The birthday party was in full swing, but the atmosphere felt suffocating. The scent of roasted meat and wine hung thick in the air, mingling with the chatter of pack members. Alpha Jasper, usually composed and distant, was acting strangely attentive. He peeled shrimp for me one by one, placing them on my plate with meticulous care. The problem? I didn’t even like shrimp. I forced a smile, but my wolf, stirred uneasily. Why is he acting like this? she muttered in my head. Something’s off. I agreed, but I didn’t want to dwell on it. I knew Alpha Jasper well. After all, I had secretly admired him for two years. I was all too familiar with his romantic history. Back in college, Alpha Jasper was the talk of the campus—a star everyone admired. Everyone knew he had a first love, his “white moonlight,” Sienna. They were the picture-perfect couple, a match made in heaven. During their coming-of-age ceremony at 18, they were blessed by the Moon Goddess, affirming them as fated mates. The entire school believed they were destined to end up together. So did I. Just when I resolved to let go of my hopeless crush, Alpha Jasper and Sienna broke up, right before graduation. They had been together for less than a year. The reason? Alpha Jasper was selected to attend an exchange program at the Blood Moon Pack, but Sienna wasn’t willing to do long-distance. What everyone once thought was an unshakable bond crumbled for such a mundane reason. When I finally had the chance to be with the man of my dreams, it was after graduation. Time should have erased the remnants of his feelings for her. Their brief relationship hardly qualified as a deep, soul-stirring love—or so I thought. Until today. It hit me like a ton of bricks. What I believed may have just been wishful thinking. Perhaps Alpha Jasper never truly let go of Sienna—not even for a moment. Otherwise, why would he keep trying to mold me into her image? Whenever I strayed from what he considered “her essence,” he would gently but firmly nudge me back into place. As I glanced across the table at Sienna, a cold weight settled in my chest. She sat effortlessly poised, her golden-brown curls cascading over one shoulder. A Alpha’s daughter, she exuded confidence and elegance. And Jasper used to be her fate mate. Even now, it felt like a ghost of their mate bond lingered. His fingers twitched when she laughed, his jaw tensed when she spoke. And then there were the little things—the way he had been encouraging me to try a new style, to wear red, to curl my hair. Like he was trying to mold me into her image. I clenched my fork, my appetite vanishing. He still wants her. The thought made my wolf bristle. Let’s walk away before we do something stupid. I took a deep breath and pushed back my chair. “I need to use the restroom.” Alpha Jasper wiped his hands and stood. “I’ll go with you.” Before I could protest, Sienna’s velvety voice cut in. “Can’t bear to be apart, even for a moment? How sweet.” Her smirk was small but cutting. Alpha Jasper stiffened beside me, his grip on my wrist tightening before he let go. His expression remained impassive, but I could feel the tension crackling between them. “Go ahead,” he said softly. “I’ll wait for you.” I left without another word, my heart pounding. Once inside the restroom, I gripped the sink, staring at my reflection. The girl staring back at me had soft curls framing her face. The deep red lipstick on her lips clashed starkly with her otherwise fresh, understated makeup. But it was the lipstick Alpha Jasper had chosen. He had wanted to see me wear it. Suddenly overcome with frustration, I turned on the faucet and furiously scrubbed at my lips, ignoring the way the water smeared my foundation. I didn’t stop even as my lips swelled and my face grew blotchy. I didn’t care. When I stepped out, the party was winding down. Pack members filtered out in groups, their laughter fading into the night. I moved toward the main hall, but a low murmur from the side room caught my ear. The door was slightly ajar. I recognized their voices instantly. “You used to hate these kinds of events,” Sienna mused. “Now you’re throwing her a party? Even planning to propose? Is this all just to get back at me?” Alpha Jasper’s reply was quieter, his voice edged with exhaustion. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Sienna chuckled. “Oh, but I think I’ve hit a nerve. Tell me, Jasper—when you close your eyes at night, who do you see?” Her voice carried a dangerous allure, like a predator playing with its prey. I didn’t think. I pushed the door open. The first thing I saw was Sienna grabbing Alpha Jasper’s arm, rising onto her toes, and pressing a kiss to his lips. The sound of the door startled them both. They turned toward me simultaneously. I’d never felt more out of place. My hair and dress were still damp from the restroom sink, and my bare face—stripped of makeup—stood in stark contrast to Sienna’s polished perfection. Alpha Jasper quickly pulled away from her, his expression darkening. Sienna, however, smiled serenely, entirely unfazed. She leisurely picking up her designer purse. As she walked past me, she leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. “Your mate seems to have someone else in his heart.”

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In the fifth year of my mating to Alpha Manfred,his childhood sweetheart, Jessica Bell, was splashed across every tabloid in the territory. Pregnant. Unmated. And accused of shattering another couple’s bond. The rumors hit like a rogue’s ambush. But it was his reaction that truly gutted me. “Jessica’s father once saved me, She has no pack, no family left. Everything she’s accomplished… she clawed her way to it. Alone.” My fingers clenched tighter around the pregnancy test tucked away in my purse. “And the only way to protect her now,” he continued, not even looking me in the eye, “is for me to marry her. To claim the pup as mine.” A muscle twitched in my jaw. Goddess, my wolf let out a low growl inside me, begging to lunge forward and leave claw marks down his perfectly tragic face. “And what about me?” I asked, barely more than a whisper. My voice cracked. The Silver Claw Pack and the Eclipse Pack—my pack—had been allies for over a century. “How do I explain this sudden rejection to my parents? To my pack? To the elders? They know we’re mate bond.” Alpha Manfred inhaled sharply. “Just tell them it was always a business arrangement. That there was no real love between us.” My wolf bared her teeth at that. No real love? Was that what last night was? His hands in my hair, his scent tangled with mine, his whispered promise that I was his forever—was that part of the business contract? He had the audacity to look away. “Once the media frenzy dies down, I’ll come for you. I’ll bring you back to Silver Claw and give you the grand wedding you deserve.” I stared at him. This Alpha—was seriously telling me he was going to marry another she-wolf, claim her pup, let me get torn apart by pack gossip and speculation, and then what? he’s offering me his marriage like it’s some kind of charity? “You’ll come for me?” I repeated slowly. “After you’re done playing house with your mistress and her bastard pup?” His jaw tightened. “Don’t say that.” “Why not?” I snapped. My wolf surged to the surface, eyes glowing faintly. “Oh right, because Jessica’s the victim here, right? Unmated, pregnant, abandoned by the whole world except you. Must be hard carrying a pup with no one to protect you.” He didn’t respond. “And meanwhile,” I said, stepping closer “you’re leaving me to face a scandal you created.” My fingers twitched, aching to throw the pregnancy test at him. But I didn’t. I laughed. For three years, I had been the one he discarded—over and over. And now, even my marriage was to be sacrificed for her sake. It hit me then, sharp and cold: Alpha Manfred had never loved me. There was no reason for the one who loved to always be the one who suffered.

If love existed at all, then the Moon Goddess was having a hell of a laugh at my expense. “Where is Jessica?” I asked, folding my arms and leveling my mate with a look sharp. “I want to meet her.” It was twisted way. My mating to Alpha Manfred began because of her, and now it would end because of her. She had haunted my entire bond and I’d never even seen her face. “The media is tearing her apart right now. She can’t show her face.” Alpha Manfred’s voice was low, deliberate. “Besides, she’s… fragile. And with the pregnancy, it’s not a good time for you two to meet.” I looked up, catching the unmistakable protectiveness in his expression. Was he afraid I’d hurt his precious childhood sweetheart? Three years of marriage, and this was the impression I left in his eyes. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, low and unsettled. She didn’t like being forgotten. Or replaced. “You think I’ll hurt her?” I asked flatly. He flinched like I’d slapped him with my claws out. “No. Of course not.” I raised a brow. “Because it kinda sounds like you’re afraid I’ll bite.” “Emily,” he sighed, like I was being difficult. Like he was the victim here. “This is temporary. I promised I’d come back for you once things settle down.” My stomach twisted. Temporary. As if our bond was something you could pause—like a treaty or a press conference. “Look,” he said, softening his tone like he always did when he knew he was losing ground. “Jessica isn’t like you. You have Eclipse Pack behind you. She has no one. No pack. No bloodline. Just me.” I stared at him, stunned. So now, if I refused, I was the unreasonable one? Alpha Manfred seemed to realize his own harshness. He stepped closer, reaching for me—but I moved away. How many times had this happened before? Every time he neglected me for Jessica’s sake, he would soften afterward, coaxing me with sweet words and empty promises. And every time, I forgave him. Too easily. Too often. I took a slow breath. The Eclipse Pack was strong. My father, our Beta, and even the elders believed I’d brought honor to the bloodline when I mated with the Alpha of the Silver Claw Pack. Our union had formed an alliance as old as the moon, and yet here I was—one press scandal away from being traded like a pawn on a chessboard. “Then I want to hear it from her,” I said, voice calm but firm. “She says she wants you? She says this is what she wants for her pup? Then she can come to me and say it. To my face.” “Emily…” Manfred looked tired now. “Do this for me. Please. Her father—he saved my life during the rogue uprising. I swore on his deathbed I’d protect her.” My wolf huffed. Mine, she growled. We marked him. We chose him. And now he was throwing away the mate bond because of a promise made under duress? Before I could snap back, a voice floated into the room like a cold breeze. “Luna Emily… please help me.” I turned, spine stiffening on instinct. There she was—Jessica Bell in the flesh. The infamous she-wolf with the soft curls and trembling lip. Her face was pale, tear-streaked, and suspiciously flawless for someone “torn apart by the media.” “I just want my pup to be born without shame,” she whispered, stepping into the room. Alpha Manfred was at her side before I could blink, his hand already at the small of her back. “What are you doing here?” he asked, voice low and panicked. “The doctor said you needed rest.” “You were gone so long…” Jessica sniffled, eyes wide and glassy as she gripped his arm like a lifeline. “I was afraid Luna Emily wouldn’t agree.” I said nothing. My fingers curled around the edge of the chair. My claws itched beneath my skin, begging for release. “The baby is innocent,” Jessica continued, her voice trembling just enough to seem sincere. “I don’t want him labeled a bastard. And if he doesn’t have a proper name, my career—my entire life—will be ruined.” Her tears fell like they’d rehearsed the drop in the mirror. She even had the nerve to tilt her head at me, pleading. “As a woman, how can you be so heartless?” My wolf bared her teeth behind my eyes. “And the real father?” I asked, arching a brow. “What, too busy to help out with the fallout? If you’re that worried about your pup’s name, maybe try the one who actually sired him.” Jessica flinched, her hand moving instinctively to her stomach. “He… he doesn’t want the pup.” Her voice cracked. “He abandoned us. Luna Emily, I have no choice. The internet is hunting me. I’m trending in five packs. If I don’t name the father soon, the backlash will destroy me.” “And you chose my mate to be your savior?” I asked, coldly. “You were born into wealth,” she shot back, the helpless tone slipping for just a second. “You’re the Eclipse Pack princess. Even if you divorce, no one would dare judge you. But me? I’m nothing without a name. My parents are gone. The father disappeared. Alpha Manfred is all I have.” I watched her, unmoved. Chapter 2 Jessica must have known I wouldn’t yield so easily this time. After all, this wasn’t like before. Not like those nights when she suddenly fell ill and needed Alpha Manfred to rush her to the hospital. Not like our anniversary, when she claimed she was being stalked and needed Alpha Manfred by her side. Three years of marriage, and Alpha Manfred had broken countless promises to me—all for her. Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was allergic to me and immune to shame. Three years. Three full moons times thirty-six. That’s how long I’d stood by and watched Alpha Manfred sprint to her side like a good little lapdog every time she whimpered. At first, I kept my mouth shut. I was the good mate. The supportive Luna. Later, I just… stopped caring. I’d growled. I’d snapped. I’d even thrown a chair once. But his response was always the same. “I told you before we married—Jessica is the daughter of my benefactor. I promised to take care of her. You said you didn’t mind.” Mind? Oh no, I adored being the third wheel in my own marriage. And stupid me, I thought “take care of her” meant maybe hiring a maid. Or helping pay her rent. Not dropping everything—including his Luna—every time she cried wolf. The irony? She wasn’t his fate mate, I was the one,his fate mate.  Flashback My first meeting with Alpha Manfred had been nothing short of a fairy tale—a damsel in distress rescued by a knight. I fell irrevocably in love. He didn’t even remember. I was thirteen when I fell for Alpha Manfred. Head over tail. It started with a fight with my older brother, Damon. He said I was too soft to be a warrior. So naturally, I had to prove I can do it. How? By sneaking off alone into the forest to hunt a rabbit. Yes. A rabbit. I did catch the rabbit, by the way. Snagged it right by the ears. But in my proud, triumphant victory dance, I realized one minor issue. I was completely, absolutely, and hopelessly lost. I tried to mind-link my family, but all I got was static. By sundown, I was freezing, scared out of my fur, and sitting under a tree hugging my knees like a sad little pup. I cried. I howled. I cursed my brother. And then— A miracle happened. A massive black wolf appeared, silent and still. Was he a threat? Would he attack me? Hands trembling, I gripped my dagger and pushed myself up, legs wobbling as I faced him. He took one look at me, then shifted—fluidly, gracefully—into a man. When he stepped from the shadows, the dying sunlight wrapped around him like a divine omen. In that moment, I believed in fate. Tall. Broad shoulders. blond hair. A pair of green eyes that could slice straight through you. To ease my nerves, he introduced himself. “Manfred Alvarado, futher Alpha of the Silver Claw Pack.” I didn’t know him, but I knew of his pack. Silver Claw—one of our Eclipse Pack’s allied packs. Still cautious, I gave only my first name. “Emily. I’m from Eclipse Pack.” He shifted back into wolf form and lowered himself. “Hop on. You’re in Silver Claw territory. If your people try to track your scent here, they won’t find you until next moonrise.” he didn’t smell like a threat. So I climbed on. He ran with the power of a seasoned Alpha—fast, smooth, effortless. And to keep me from panicking, he started talking through our link. Said he was out picking moonflowers for his benefactor’s daughter. She had some kind of stress rash and apparently moonflower essence was a miracle cure. How sweet. How gallant. How utterly whipped. Somewhere along the way, lulled by his voice and the steady rhythm of his stride, I fell asleep. When I woke up, we were at the Eclipse border. His jacket was draped around me. And he stood nearby, leaning against a streetlamp, cigarette glowing between his fingers as he waited for my pack to show up. A wolf-shaped shadow keeping watch. He didn’t say goodbye. He just nodded once, then vanished into the trees like a ghost. I never told my family about that night. But from that moment on, I tracked every whisper of the Silver Claw Pack. Read every article. Watched every broadcast. Chapter 3 Five years later, Silver Claw Pack sought to expand into Mississippi and proposed a marriage alliance with Eclipse Pack. At the time, I was preparing to study abroad. My parents refused outright. But when I learned from my brother that the business partner was the Silver Claw Pack, I thought it was fate. I gave up my academic plans and convinced my family to agree—on one condition: It had to be Alpha Manfred. My brother objected. First, the project didn’t require a marriage alliance. Second, Silver Claw Pack was rife with uncles and cousins vying for power. Third, Alpha Manfred’s mother had passed away young, leaving him no backing. Even with talent and ambition, climbing to the top would be an uphill battle. They didn’t understand why I was so determined to marry him. Eventually, they gave in. My mother even smiled wistfully and said, “With your charm, your background, your beauty—even in an arranged marriage, he’ll fall for you sooner or later.” Yeah. I was young. Hopeful. Borderline delusional. But the night of the engagement party? It felt like fate was finally throwing me a bone. I still remember the way Alpha Manfred looked at me across the crowd—his eyes wide, stunned. Or, more accurately, like he’d just found something he didn’t know he’d lost. “…It’s you?” he said, voice barely above a whisper. By then, I was eighteen. Taller. Stronger. Still a little reckless. But in that moment, when our eyes met— My wolf let out a wild, joyful howl in my mind. “Mate.” My heart flipped. My skin tingled. The bond crackled to life like lightning under my bones. I stepped closer, smiled, and echoed his words. “It’s me.” Then added softly, “My mate. My fiancé.” He smiled the entire night. And not the polite, politician smile. No, this was the kind that reached his eyes. The kind that made me believe—this is real. And it was. For a while. After the wedding, we couldn’t stop talking. We stayed up late swapping stories—he had a secret love for 80s werewolf flicks; I admitted I used to sneak into comic conventions in glamor. I learned to cook his favorite steak-and-potato stew; he braved crowds to hold my hand at anime expos. It was awkward and hilarious and weirdly perfect. Love bloomed like it was spring inside us. I believed—truly—that our story would play out like a romance drama. Marriage of alliance becomes love. Alpha and Luna rule side by side, powerful and inseparable. Then came my birthday. He missed it. For Jessica. That was the first crack. Then came our anniversary. We had an entire overseas trip planned—moonstone beaches, wolf-surfing lessons, a luxury cave spa. Gone. Missed. Again—for Jessica. Even Harvest Festival. He didn’t show. Because Jessica needed him. At first, he lied. I’d ask, “Where were you?” He’d mumble something vague. “Work. Meeting. Pack emergency.” Then one day, the media got sloppy. A photo made its way into the headlines. Blurry. Grainy. Just the back of a man’s head walking beside Jessica through a hotel lobby. But I’d know that head anywhere. Furious, I stormed home to my parents’ estate. My wolf paced in circles, heartbroken and growling low in my chest. Alpha Manfred arrived the next day. Disheveled. Exhausted. Red-eyed. “Emily,” he rasped, voice cracking, “I love you. Jessica’s nothing more than a sister to me.” I said nothing. He stepped closer. “Her father—he saved me once. When I was a pup. Save me out of the Rogue Den. Died from his injuries. On his deathbed, I swore I’d protect her.” His voice broke. “You understand, don’t you?” I did. And like a fool, I forgave him. Too easily. After that, it became routine. Jessica calls, Alpha Manfred runs. I wait. He comes back. Says he loves me. I forgive. Each time, he leaned on my love like it was a shield for his choices. Each time, I gave in, thinking maybe—just maybe—next time, he’d choose me. Now, I remember my mother’s warning—the one I brushed aside like it was just old-fashioned advice: “Emily, love has no room for a third person. Not family. Not debts. You might endure being second once or twice… but can you bear it for a lifetime?”

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As I sat in the police station with Yvonne Harper, my boyfriend’s childhood sweetheart, waiting for bail arrangements to be made, the decision loomed. One of us could go home tonight. My mate, Alpha Jackson, chose to take her. “Nicole, just wait for me one more night. I’ll come back for you tomorrow,” he said. He was worried about her fragile health, but he didn’t care about my fear of the dark. Later, I called him. My voice was steady, though my heart ached. “Jackson,” I began, “for the past few years, I’ve been waiting for you.” “But I won’t wait forever.” Chapter 1 My Alpha boyfriend’s childhood sweetheart, Yvonne Harper, and I were stuck at the police station, waiting for bail. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow over the gray-tiled floor. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, ears flattened, tail lashing. I wasn’t the type to get arrested—Yvonne, though? She practically had a VIP seat here. Then, the scent of pine and warm musk filled the air. Alpha Jackson stormed in. His amber eyes locked onto mine, and for a fleeting second, I thought—he’s here for me. “Officer,” he said”I’m here to bail them out.” The officer didn’t even glance up from his paperwork. “You can only take one.” Silence. I turned to Jackson, expecting—hoping—for certainty in his expression. Instead, I saw it. Hesitation. No. He wouldn’t. Would he? The answer came a second later when his hand reached out… but not for me. For her. For Yvonne. My wolf stilled. My heart, however, shattered. “Jackson?” My voice barely came out, barely sounded like mine. Before leaving, he grabbed my hand, his grip tight, as if this—as if I—still meant something. “Nicole, just wait for me one more night. I’ll come back for you soon.” His tone was earnest, like he believed his own words. But he never once looked back. He left so quickly, he didn’t even hear my response. Didn’t hear whether I was willing to wait. Didn’t hear if I was scared, hurt, or furious. I stared at their retreating figures, Yvonne’s delicate frame leaning against his side, as they vanished beyond the station doors. Unwilling to accept it. A low chuckle snapped me out of my daze. “See?” The officer smirked, tapping his pen against the desk. “Told you he wouldn’t pick you.” I froze, unable to refute. My wolf, usually calm, let out a low growl inside me. But when Alpha Jackson pursued me, he promised—he promised he would love me wholeheartedly. The year I met Alpha Jackson was the same year my parents died in a rogue attack. Losing them felt like losing the last fragile thread connecting me to the world. The love I had received was already scarce, and after that, there was no one left to love me. So that year, I was silent. Gloomy. A ghost of a person drifting through the pack, unnoticed and unwanted. And wolves? Wolves could smell weakness. They avoided me like I was carrying a curse. Some whispered behind my back, while others barely acknowledged my existence. My wolf, once so lively and stubborn, curled up deep inside me, refusing to come out. Then, he arrived. Alpha Jackson. He was everything I wasn’t. Confident, radiant, the kind of person others naturally gravitated toward. Whenever he walked into a room, laughter followed, and conversations circled around him like planets around the sun. Yet somehow… he noticed me. Not the popular she-wolves vying for his attention. Not the warriors eager to prove their worth. Me. That day, I had skipped lunch—not that I had much appetite anymore. But the hunger gnawed at me, sharp and cruel, and my stomach cramped in protest. I had made it to the edge of the training field before my legs gave out, my entire body trembling from exhaustion. I pressed a hand to my stomach, curling inward. Breathe. Just breathe. A shadow fell over my curled-up form. A deep voice broke through the haze. “Hey, do you need some help?” I flinched at the sudden presence, but when I looked up, I found a pair of sharp amber eyes watching me. Not with pity. Not with disgust. With curiosity. Jackson crouched beside me, his brows knitting together. “You don’t look so great.” No kidding. I swallowed hard. “I’m fine.” “Uh-huh. Right.” His tone was completely unconvinced. “Because ‘fine’ people usually shake like they’re about to shift mid-air.” I blinked. My wolf stirred slightly at the teasing lilt in his voice. Alpha Jackson wasn’t just offering help. He was paying attention. And for the first time in a long time, someone saw me. Chapter 2 Everything that followed seemed to fall into place naturally. On weekends, I would go watch his sparring matches, marveling at the raw power in his movements, the effortless way he dodged and struck. Even among the most talented young wolves, Alpha Jackson stood out—his instincts razor-sharp, his dominance undeniable. And out of all the people offering him water after a grueling fight, he would only drink the one I brought. “Gotta make sure my girl didn’t poison me,” he’d joke, flashing a grin before downing it in one gulp. When the weather turned chilly, he’d drape his jacket over my shoulders without a word, pretending not to notice the teasing whistles from his friends. But I saw the way his ears turned red, and I lived for it. Alpha Jackson introduced me to his social circle, a mix of future warriors, betas, and carefree nobles who all treated me with surprising warmth. Because of him, I made an effort to be more outgoing, to fit into his world. And eventually, I did. But one evening after school, while everyone was hanging out near the training grounds, he suddenly cornered me against a wall, his golden eyes dark with something unfamiliar. “Nicole, can you stay away from them?” His voice was low, almost a growl. I blinked. “What?” “I get really jealous.” For a moment, I was stunned. Then, I couldn’t help but laugh. In that instant, the great Alpha Jackson—strong, untouchable, confident—looked like a sulking little wolf pup. Seeing me laugh, he sighed dramatically and ruffled my hair, grinning. “You little troublemaker, does it make you that happy to see me jealous?” I nodded, still giggling, and his lips crashed against mine in response. A kiss—unexpected but searing, filled with possessiveness that sent heat spiraling down my spine. My heart pounded like a drum. His scent wrapped around me, leaving no room for anything else. Jackson always felt like an exuberant pup, radiating warmth, his love pouring onto me like sunshine. On the night of our 18th birthday ceremony. Shifting for the first time was brutal. My body burned, bones cracking and reforming as my wolf—dormant for so long—finally emerged in a storm of pain and power. Then, through the agony, I caught it. That scent. Pine and musk. A voice roared in my head. “Mate!” When I lifted my head, panting, Jackson was already in front of me in his wolf form, golden eyes glowing under the full moon. He shifted back effortlessly, as if his body had never known pain, and walked toward me with a smile that made my breath hitch. He reached out, gently patting my head as I trembled from the aftershocks of my first shift. “Nicole, We’re fated mates. Are you happy?” I nodded almost dumbly, my wolf still howling with joy in my mind. Word spread like wildfire. It was as if everyone had expected it all along. Amidst the congratulations, I clung tightly to Jackson’s waist, still overwhelmed by everything that had happened. Some teased me. “Nicole, you’ve struck gold.” “Alpha Jackson is famous for how well he treats people.” And I knew they were right. I had struck gold. Jackson’s care for me was meticulous. He remembered my cycle and always had warm brown sugar water ready before I even needed it. He flooded his social media with pictures of me, proudly captioning them with things like “Mine.” and “My little Luna.” And whenever I spiraled into self-doubt, he would stand up without hesitation, declaring to anyone who would listen, “Nicole is the most amazing person in the world. End of discussion.” So, when he suggested we move in together, I didn’t even think twice. “You’re so wonderful,” I told him, my heart swelling. “If you were fire, I’d willingly dive into the flames for you.” Later, as I was sorting through our clothes in the new apartment, he suddenly hugged me from behind, pressing his face into my shoulder. I smiled, assuming he was in a playful mood, and lightly pushed at him—only to feel the dampness on his cheeks. Stunned, I turned around. “Jackson?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I found out about your parents.” Something in my chest twisted. That night, he refused to let go of me, his arms locked around me like he could shield me from the past. It was then that he whispered a promise in my ear, one that sank into my bones like a vow. “Nicole, I’ll love you with everything I have.” “Including the love your parents would have given you.”

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The day before the final round of the Beta selection, I was poisoned with wolfsbane and locked inside my home as it was engulfed in flames. The fire spread unnaturally fast. My wolf, Seraph, was screaming inside my head, but the wolfsbane had weakened me too much to shift. I clawed at the door, my nails breaking against the wood, the heat searing my skin. When I was rescued, my face was severely scarred, my skin torn and raw, and my body covered in extensive burns. Outside the operating room, I heard my mother’s agonized sobs. She kept repeating, “It’s my fault… I locked the door by accident… I never meant to…” My mate, Alpha Laurence, mobilized every healer in the Silver Claw Pack, swearing to restore my health. “Easy, girl,” the doctor whispered. “We’ll get through this. One step at a time.” The doctor busied himself with the anesthesia. Then ,Drowsiness pulled me under, but just before I slipped into unconsciousness, I overheard my mother’s hesitant voice: “Laurence… wasn’t it too much? Poisoning Ella with wolfsbane, setting the fire, locking the door… just so Celia could become Beta? She’s—she’s burned beyond recognition…” Alpha Laurence let out a cold scoff. “If Ella wasn’t so vain and selfish, I wouldn’t have had to do this. She knew Celia was fragile, struggling with depression, yet she paraded her victories in front of her like a damn trophy. All Ella lost was her looks, but Celia lost her confidence, her happiness. This is what Ella owes her.” “Don’t worry. I’ll marry Ella. Once she’s Luna, no one will dare say a word about her disfigured face. She should be grateful I’m treating her so well.” Destroying my health and my career is what he calls treating me well? I pressed a trembling hand to my bandaged chest, barely feeling the pain through the numbness creeping over me. My wolf let out a low, agonized growl inside me, the remnants of wolfsbane still dulling her strength. I bit down on my cracked lip, tasting blood. The mother who once cherished me. The mate who was meant to protect me. I didn’t want either of them anymore.

“Hold off on the surgery. Have all the doctors wait outside,” Alpha Laurence commanded. The doctor, who had just slipped on his gloves, froze. “Alpha Laurence, Miss Ella’s burns are severe. There are traces of wolfsbane in her system, preventing her natural healing. If we don’t act now—if we don’t detoxify and operate—she won’t just be disfigured. She could lose her wolf completely. If that happens, she’ll be wolfless, vulnerable, and—” “Ruined?” Alpha Laurence cut in with a cold chuckle. “If she’s ruined, so be it.” I was barely conscious, my body a wreck of seared flesh and excruciating pain, but my hearing was sharp. And the way he said it—so indifferent, so final—made my stomach churn harder than the wolfsbane had. A pause. Then my mother spoke, her voice hesitant. “Laurence… Ella is too gravely injured to participate in the Beta selection tomorrow. Maybe we should—” “Should what?” His voice turned sharp. “Let her recover? Give her a chance to fight back? No. If she can’t be Beta, she’ll find ways to sabotage Celia. You know how Ella is—vain, competitive, selfish. Leaving her half-dead, wolfless, and helpless is the only way to stop her from bullying Celia.” Vain. Selfish. That’s what he thought of me? Alpha Laurence exhaled, Then, with a tenderness so grotesquely out of place, he dipped a swab into water and gently pressed it to my cracked lips. The contrast made me want to retch. “Ella, this is for your own good, You need to learn humility.” My mother sighed, then turned to the doctors. “Just relieve her pain. Clean her burns lightly—don’t let her suffer too much.” Suffer too much? My breath came in ragged gasps, my chest rising and falling in a painful rhythm. No one noticed how violently I trembled beneath the blankets, as if a blade had pierced my heart and pinned me to the bed. The fire hadn’t been an accident. The wolfsbane wasn’t a coincidence. It had been him. It had always been him. And my mother—my own mother—had helped. Outside, they stood talking about me like I wasn’t even here. “It’s for the best,” Alpha Laurence murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. “I promised Celia she’d be Beta. I won’t let anyone stand in her way.” The numbness in my limbs couldn’t stop the fire of hatred igniting in my heart. I had loved this man. The mate the Moon Goddess had chosen for me. The one I thought would fight beside me, protect me. But I was wrong. I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood, forcing myself not to cry out. Don’t give them the satisfaction. A metallic taste spread over my tongue as the pain gnawed at my chest. My vision blurred, and before I could stop it, a mouthful of blood surged up, splattering onto my sheets. The room fell into momentary chaos. My mother gasped and rushed toward me, stopping short when she realized there wasn’t a single inch of me she could touch without causing more harm. Tears streaked her face. “Ella, Mommy is here. Does it hurt? Don’t be afraid. Mommy will always stay by your side.” Alpha Laurence, on the other hand, was seething. “Where are the damn doctors? If anything happens to my Luna, this hospital will cease to exist!” The doctors, already in on the scheme, fumbled for an excuse. “Alpha Laurence, they’re on their way. There was a traffic accident—the car is stuck. They won’t arrive until tomorrow at the earliest.” Alpha Laurence didn’t even let him finish before he kicked the man out of the room with a growl. “Get lost!” Then, he turned back to me, his expression softening into a look of practiced guilt. He crouched beside my bed, his eyes searching mine as if he actually cared. “Ella, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault for not getting here sooner. I should’ve protected you better. But don’t worry,” he whispered, grasping my unburned fingers. “No matter the cost, I’ll make sure you’re healed. You’ll always be the strongest Beta in my heart.” I looked at him. This man—who had orchestrated my downfall—was playing the role of a devoted mate so flawlessly that if I hadn’t heard him earlier, I might have believed him. I swallowed down the bile in my throat, my voice so weak it barely made a sound. “Will I really recover?” “You will,” he vowed, his thumb grazing the back of my hand. “I promise.” his false sincerity painting me as nothing more than a fool. To eliminate me as a threat to Celia, my mate—the man who had promised to love me all his life—had strung me along with one lie after another, only to push me down a path of destruction. Even my mother, who had once held me as her treasure, chose to raise the blade against me for Celia, the two-faced adopted daughter. At that moment, I wanted to ask them why they had been so cruel to me. But every word dissolved into the growing coldness in my heart, leaving nothing but a suffocating silence. A group of doctors entered with disinfectants, their faces marked by pity and regret as they gazed at my mutilated body. “Miss Ella,” one of them said gently, “the specialists aren’t here yet. We’ll just do some basic disinfection for now. Please bear with it.” The moment the disinfectant touched my burns, agony ripped through me like lightning. My fragile veins, still weakened by wolfsbane, burst under the treatment. Blood and pus seeped through the sheets, the sharp, acrid scent filling the air. My mother let out a strangled sob, her hands trembling violently as she covered her mouth. Alpha Laurence clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, his red-rimmed eyes making it look as if he were the one in pain. Their performances were flawless. But I saw the truth. Everything was a lie. Only the betrayal—and the scars—were real.

The first thing I felt when I woke up was pain. A deep, bone-gnawing pain that made my wolf whimper weakly in the back of my mind. She was still there—barely—but I could feel how weak she was, how much the wolfsbane had drained her. Normally, a werewolf’s body would heal on its own, even from severe burns. But with the poison still in my system, I was trapped in this raw, agonizing state. And that’s when I heard them. “Laurence, Ella’s condition is already so severe. We’ve delayed her treatment for two days now, and you still want to give her the hospital’s newly developed psychological medication?” It was my mother’s voice, just outside my hospital room. “The doctor said the drug hasn’t been fully tested yet. The side effects might include seizures and incontinence,” my mother said hesitantly. After a few seconds of silence, Alpha Laurence’s voice turned resolute. “That’s exactly what we need.” A cold sweat prickled down my spine. “Today is Celia’s celebration banquet. There will be many pack elites and Alphas attending. Ella is already a disgrace; a little more humiliation won’t make a difference. Once she’s completely stripped of her dignity, she won’t fight Celia for the Beta position anymore.” I clenched my fists beneath the thin hospital blanket, my burned skin screaming in protest. My nails dug into my palms, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the hurt in my chest. “Tomorrow, after the banquet, I’ll announce our engagement—it’ll be my way of making it up to her.” Making it up to me? Burning me alive, poisoning me, robbing me of my future as Beta—and now parading my humiliation in front of the entire pack? And somehow, an engagement to the mate who betrayed me was supposed to fix it? Alpha Laurence continued, completely unfazed. “Mom, make sure the doctors wait outside the packhouse. Once the banquet ends, they can detoxify her and schedule the surgery.” “Alright,” my mother agreed without hesitation. I stared at the ceiling, my mind blank, my throat too dry to even scream. This was the man I had once trusted with my life. And the woman who had given birth to me had just sealed my fate without a second thought. The two people I trusted most had destroyed everything I had worked for. From a young age, despite my frail health, I had strived tirelessly to become a Beta worthy of my father’s legacy. With just a few casual words, they crushed all my dreams. A sharp, searing pain shot through my chest, as if my wolf was howling in grief. If I had known this was the outcome, I’d rather have died in the fire. The door creaked open. Alpha Laurence entered, his face a perfect mask of concern. If I hadn’t overheard his little plan, I might have been fooled by the way he softened his eyes, the way he lowered his voice like he actually cared. “Sweetheart,” he murmured, pulling a small bottle from his pocket. “I just spoke to the doctor. These are newly developed painkillers—completely safe. They’ll help you suffer less.” I lowered my gaze to the two bright red pills, my throat feeling like it was coated with rust. My voice came out hoarse. “Laurence, the pills taste too bitter. I don’t want to take them.” He hesitated for only a moment before smiling and taking my hand. “Watching you endure all this pain hurts me too. Can you really bear to see me like this?” He exhaled heavily, shaking his head as if I were the unreasonable one. “My sweet Ella, do it for me.” Without giving me a chance to refuse, he pressed the pills to my lips. “Good girl, let me help you.” The moment the pill touched my tongue, its bitterness spread like acid, searing through my senses. I tried to spit it out, but it dissolved almost instantly in my mouth, leaving a thick metallic taste coating my throat. A wave of dizziness hit me, making the room spin. My vision blurred at the edges. Not enough to knock me out completely—but just enough to dull my reflexes, to make sure I wouldn’t put up too much of a fight. Alpha Laurence seized the moment to grab my hand. “Ella, today is Celia’s celebration banquet. Her greatest wish is for your blessing. If you don’t attend, people will spread rumors that you’re petty and can’t accept your adopted sister’s success…” I cut him off before he could drag it out any longer. “I’ll go. Prepare the clothes.” Alpha Laurence blinked, surprised by how quickly I agreed. He had expected resistance—an argument, at the very least. But I knew there was no point in fighting him now. He had already planned everything, left me no room for refusal. If I couldn’t escape the humiliation, then fine. I’d let him think he had won. Let them all think they had broken me. My mother walked in just as I spoke. When she heard my agreement, her face lit up with joy. “Good girl, Ella. I knew you were always so sensible.” “Once Celia’s banquet is over, I’ll personally host your wedding with Laurence,” she added with a warm smile. I numbly pulled my hand away, my heart completely dead inside. The car ride to the celebration banquet was silent. I didn’t bother looking out the window, didn’t try to track the route. It didn’t matter where I was being taken. By the time we arrived, the dizziness had worn off, but my body still felt sluggish, like I was wading through mud. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was blinded by a burst of flashing lights. Cameras. Journalists. A pack of them, waiting like hungry rogues. Panic flared in my chest. My hand shot out instinctively, reaching for my mother— But I grasped at empty air. In the corner of my eye, I saw her walking away, her arm linked with Celia’s, the both of them beaming as they stepped into the banquet hall. She didn’t even glance back. My breath hitched, and I yanked my hat down over my face, trying to shield myself. But the reporters had already closed in, their voices like claws, ripping into me. “Miss Ella, is it true that you tried to burn your sister alive out of jealousy because you didn’t want her to become the Beta of the Silver Claw Pack?” “Miss Ella, how does someone as malicious as you even have the audacity to show up at your sister’s celebration banquet? Don’t you feel any shame?” “Miss Ella, you were so fierce in past combat tournaments, yet you couldn’t escape a simple fire. Could it be that the rumors were true all along? I heard you bribed male warriors with your body to go easy on you during matches. But since your opponent this time was your sister, that tactic didn’t work, so you resorted to arson instead?” The words slammed into me, but I barely reacted. Until— A hand shot out. And in one ruthless motion— The reporter tore off my hat.

Gasps erupted in unison. A face disfigured beyond recognition by fire was exposed under the cameras’ relentless scrutiny. “Oh my God, that’s disgusting. Is that even human?” “I’m gonna puke. Damn, that’s hideous—a hell devil come to life in broad daylight.” Their words sliced through me like silver blades. My heart pounded, the sound deafening in my ears. I couldn’t even process the shame fast enough before another voice, gleeful and dripping with malice, rang out: “The most arrogant female warrior—immoral, malicious, and spiteful. She deliberately set a fire to kill her sister and ended up paying the price. They say there isn’t a single patch of intact skin left on her. Let’s see for ourselves what it means when karma comes knocking.” Phones were lifted. Streams went live. My stomach churned. My vision blurred as black spots danced before my eyes. Then— A hard shove. I hit the ground, my already battered body collapsing under the force. My clothes—thin, oversized hospital scrubs—ripped like wet paper. My arms were exposed. My thighs. My waist. A sharp, broken gasp tore from my throat, but the noise of the crowd swallowed it whole. Then came the tremors. My hands and feet twitched first. Then my entire body seized violently, jerking against the cold pavement as if struck by an electric current. The cameras zoomed in. “She’s having a seizure! This is gold—get a close-up, quick! It’s all prime footage!” I writhed in agony, my eyes rolling back as my fangs pushed painfully against my gums, as foam spilled from the corners of my mouth.. I knew the drugs were taking effect, but there was nothing I could do. Like a clown stripped bare, I was at their mercy as they shredded my dignity into nothingness. And the worst was yet to come. A horrifying warmth spread beneath me, wet and shameful. The acrid scent hit my nose first, just before the gasps and laughter started. “Oh, shit! She pissed herself!” “I thought wolves had some dignity left—guess not!”

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“My father’s car accident was not an accident – the organ donation agreement he signed stated that the beneficiary was his illegitimate son whom he never called ‘son’.” When I woke up on the operating table of Moonhealer, with catheters all over my body, I finally understood the truth of this “father’s love” But now, I am back with the blessing of Moon Goddess. Kaelen looked at my scars with his blue eyes that could freeze his prey, but his fingertips were unspeakably gentle: “Does it hurt?” I smiled and put the dagger against his Adam’s apple: “Not even one ten-thousandth of his betrayal.” My hackles rose as the truth sank in – my sire hadn’t just betrayed our pack, he’d sabotaged our hunting vehicle. The brakes had failed during the full moon run. My dam and I had barely survived the crash. While we lay bleeding in the Moonhealer’s den, my sire had signed the life-debt waiver – agreeing to harvest our organs for his bastard whelp with the failing kidneys. His moon-blessed son by that she-wolf he’d been rutting with behind my dam’s back. Then the Moon Goddess granted me a second chance. I woke with the scent of pine and blood in my nostrils – the day before the accident. My claws dug into my palms as I watched my sire’s false smile, saw my dam’s exhausted muzzle graying too soon from years of submission. ‘This time,’ I vowed to the moon, ‘that traitor and his whore will pay in blood.’ I’d always known my sire despised me for being born female. He was obsessed with continuing the Blackfang bloodline, as if we were some royal pack instead of just territory holders. After my birth, my dam had quickened with three more pups – each time he’d forced her to reject the litter when the seers predicted females. The last forced rejection left her barren. My sire would sneer, “Useless bitch can’t even whelp proper heirs.” I’d begged my dam to flee with me to the Rogue Lands, but she clung to the fantasy that his wolf still recognized her as mate. The abuse lessened when I reached my first shift age. Not out of remorse – that was when his mistress birthed his precious golden-furred son. A traitorous Alpha, a broken Luna, and a conniving she-wolf waiting to steal our den. Even with this moon-blessed second chance, the injustice made my fangs ache. “Hunt safely. Howl when you reach the gathering,” my sire called after us, his voice dripping with false concern. What kind of Alpha sacrifices his true mate and firstborn for a sickly bastard whelp? Even lowland coyotes protect their pups better. As we left pack territory, I kept growling warnings: “Slow pace, dam. Scent the wind carefully.” Before reaching the Thunderpath, I demanded we stop at the Greasepaw mechanic’s outpost. She bared her teeth in irritation. “Your sire just had the vehicle blessed by pack mechanics! What could be wrong?” I flattened my ears. “My pelt won’t lie still. The moon whispers warnings. Please, just let them check the brake talismans.” Before she could refuse, I turned to the grizzled delta mechanic and dropped to a submissive crouch. “Honored one, please examine the stopping-magic. I offer two moonstones for your time.” The old wolf’s nostrils flared as he caught the scent of tampered enchantments. His growl shook the ground when he found the blood-tainted brake runes. “This was no accident. Someone wanted you dead on the Thunderpath.” My dam’s golden eyes finally cleared of denial as the truth sank in – her mate had tried to murder us for his bastard son. A low, grieving howl built in her throat as the mechanic showed her the evidence. The sound made my own wolf rise in answering fury. Tonight, we would howl a different tune. Tonight, the traitors would learn why even a female Blackfang was not to be crossed.

“Why did you choose to run the Volkten territory with me?” I asked as the Greasepaw mechanic worked on our vehicle, my claws tapping against the moonstone counter. In my last life, this question had haunted me. My dam rarely left pack lands, let alone traveled to distant territories without my sire. There had to be meaning in this journey. At my question, my dam’s ears flattened against her skull. Her golden eyes darkened with unspoken pain, her scent turning bitter with regret. The hesitation in her body language made my wolf stir with curiosity. Wait… My tail stiffened. Could my sire not be my true blood? Is my real father waiting in Volkten? Is that why she’s taking me there now that I’ve had my first shift? Years of listening to Lonewolf Ballads around the fire had clearly addled my brain – I was already picturing some dramatic Alpha reunion under the blood moon. My dam’s nostrils flared as she caught the change in my scent. She cuffed me lightly behind the ears, her growl laced with amusement. “Stop that. My wolf has only ever known one mate.” “The truth is,” she continued, her voice dropping to a mournful howl, “your grandsire is fading. The moon sickness has taken hold. Your uncle reached out through the howl network – he wants to see us one last time.” “When I bonded with your sire, my whole pack opposed the mating. I was so furious I severed the blood ties… and never looked back.” Her whiskers trembled with regret. Just as I opened my muzzle to ask about my grandsire’s pack, the delta mechanic approached, his grease-stained fur standing on end. “This vehicle shouldn’t be on the Thunderpath,” he rumbled, wiping his paws on a rag. “The brake talismans are nearly faded to nothing. At high speeds, the stopping magic would fail completely.” “The engine runes are cracked too,” he continued, showing us the damaged markings. “And worst of all – the fuel bladder is leaking moonfire essence. One spark and…” He made an explosive motion with his claws. My dam’s hackles rose. “Impossible! My mate just had the pack shamans bless this vehicle three suns ago!” The old mechanic gave a world-weary snort. “I call the scents as I find them, Luna. Take it to the Alpha’s mechanics if you doubt me – but don’t say I didn’t warn you when this den-on-wheels bursts into flames mid-run.” I placed a restraining paw on my dam’s shoulder before she could argue. “Fix everything,” I told the mechanic. “We’ll pay in moonstones or fresh kill.” Turning to my dam, I let my ears droop in submission. “Remember the death pact sire made us sign last moon cycle? I thought it was strange then… but now the scent trail is clear.” Before I could finish, my dam’s pupils dilated to black pools. Without a word, she stalked outside, her claws already extending as she punched in my sire’s number on her howl-phone. The low, dangerous growl building in her chest promised that someone’s blood would paint the moon tonight.

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Ava’s world shatters when she overhears the Alpha she’s loved for five years admit his crippled act was a cruel ruse to punish her. For 98 rain-drenched days, Ethan faked agony with wolfsbane, letting her believe he needed her—all to avenge a childhood illness that “cost” him his Luna. “99 times, then it ends,” he cold-bloodedly tells his Beta, unaware she’s eavesdropping. Her heart breaks further as she plays along, forced to watch him flirt with Lila, a fake healer brought in to replace her. When Lila parades from Ethan’s room in silk pajamas, marking her neck with “medical” bites, Ava’s blind loyalty snaps. The man who once soothed her nightmares now gaslights her, calling her “filthy-minded” for doubting his lies. As she uncovers his ability to walk—every midnight “massage” a mockery—Ava plots escape. But Ethan’s final act of betrayal looms: the 99th rainstorm, a trap disguised as need. Will she break free from the man who weaponized her love, or drown in the wreckage of his five-year lie? Chapter 1 When I delivered Alpha Ethan’s painkillers in the heavy rain, I heard him talking to his friend. “Ethan, you are too good at pretending. You have been bound to a wheelchair for five years since the ‘accident’. Ava is also a fool. She has served you for five years and didn’t even notice that there was nothing wrong with your legs.” His friend, Beta Declan, chuckled, “I can’t even remember how many times you asked her to deliver medicine in the rain.” I only heard Alpha Ethan speak coldly, “98 times, what do you care about her?” Another voice was silent for a while, “I didn’t, but after all, you raised her as a child, are you really willing to do that?” Ethan replied, “If she hadn’t pretended to be sick on the day Sophia left, I wouldn’t have failed to win back my Luna. This is her punishment. The game will end after 99 times.” Outside the door, I tightly grasped the painkillers in my hand, feeling so heartbroken that I couldn’t breathe. I thought Alpha Ethan didn’t care about other wolves’ eyes and kept me by his side because he felt the mate bond. I didn’t expect it was just to retaliate for my illness that day and delayed his pursuit of Sophia, the former Luna. Okay, he sheltered me in his pack for five years and I would pay him back for five years. After that, we would not see each other again. I waited in the hotel lobby until I calmed down before I walked to the box again. After the knock on the door, there was a commotion inside. Everyone’s smiles faded. “Ava, why did you come just now? Alpha Ethan is sweating from the pain. If you don’t want to serve Alpha Ethan, just say so. If you hadn’t been so shameless as to rush to take care of him yourself, his legs might have healed long ago.” The voice was the same as before, it was Beta Declan, Ethan’s closest subordinate. I ignored his strange voice and walked in front of Alpha Ethan. His expression was ugly, as if he had endured great pain and beads of sweat were clearly visible on his forehead. But I clearly smelled a strong smell of wolfsbane on it. This was the drama he had performed for me 98 times before and the funny thing was that I didn’t notice it at all in the past five years. “What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and get the medicine.” Seeing that I was not like usual, Beta Declan grabbed my wrist and threw me to the side. I fell heavily to the ground and the wound that was knocked down by someone because I was in a hurry broke again. But no matter how deep the pain in my knee was, it was not even one-tenth of the pain in my heart. Ethan, you were really a good actor. In order to punish me, you even pretended to be disabled in a wheelchair for five years. “Declan, stop it!” Alpha Ethan’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up and saw him maneuvering the wheelchair in front of me, trying hard to help me up. “Ava, I’m sorry, Declan didn’t mean it, he was just too worried about me.” I refused his help and tried to force a smile on my face. “I know, I took too long. You must be in pain.” Hearing what I said, the tension in Alpha Ethan’s eyes immediately relaxed. I knew that my performance just now made him suspicious. The Hawthorne Pack was extremely powerful. As a human fostered in the pack for five years, I knew better than anyone how absolute Alpha Ethan’s authority was. If I didn’t listen and play this scene with him, the consequences would never be better than now. I gave the medicine to Beta Declan, told him to take good care of Alpha Ethan and left on my own. Just because Alpha Ethan said he didn’t want me to see him taking medicine—he said it would make me sad, and if I was sad, he would be unhappy. In fact, not only would I be sad, but every time I turned around, I would pray for his legs to heal. Even if it costed me my life. Chapter 2 Before I walked far, I could vaguely hear loud laughter coming from inside. “Ethan, you saw it, we successfully fooled her again. Next time I will be more prepared. Just a little scratch is not enough to make her realize her mistake. And you have to pay for all the wolfsbane today. I have prepared a mysterious gift for you.” Alpha Ethan was silent for a moment. “Ask the waiter to put it on my tab.” I walked back to the pack villa in my soaking wet clothes, their laughter replaying in my mind. My hope for the mate bond with Alpha Ethan disappeared with every step I took. Until I saw a woman dressed exquisitely at the gate. I suddenly realized that this was the gift Beta Declan prepared for him. “Miss, please make way, you are blocking me,” she said. I hurriedly stood aside and waited for her to go in. “Isn’t this the best hotel? How come someone dressed like this appears? It’s really disappointing.” That woman said to me as she looked at me upside down. I thought it was really Sophia, the former Luna, who came back, but as soon as she opened her mouth, I knew it wasn’t. Sophia was raised in a noble pack and it would never be possible for her to say such a thing in public. It turned out she was Lila Blackwood, the Beta Female Declan had found as a substitute. On the way back to the Hawthorne Pack villa, I contacted my aunt who was away for the first time. Five years ago, in order to take care of the “disabled” Alpha Ethan, I did not agree to go abroad with her. This time, she agreed to help me get a new identity without asking anything—human identities were easier to forge outside pack territories. Before that, I just needed to maintain the status quo and serve Alpha Ethan as usual. Unfortunately, Alpha Ethan did not show up for the next three days. His assistant told me that there was an emergency in the pack—only he could handle it. “Ava, I’m already here. I’m safe and sound, you should have a good rest and don’t run around.” Alpha Ethan called me as usual after arriving at the place. This was our agreement, to tell each other that we were safe at any time. The year I first arrived at the Hawthorne Pack, I made an appointment with several human classmates to travel. On the way, we were threatened by a rogue werewolf and locked in a small dark room. He mobilized the pack warriors to find us who were hungry and scared. He asked me to call him when I went out. He had kept this habit for so many years. But this time, I clearly heard a charming female voice from the other side. “Alpha Ethan, come and see, do you like this sample? I’ll wear it for you to see.” “Don’t make trouble.” I said shortly as I hung up the phone bitterly. The appearance of this woman made Alpha Ethan’s lies clumsy. Since he couldn’t move his legs, he never went on pack business trips. Besides, with the current strength of the Hawthorne Pack, there would be no problem that only he could handle, unless the pack was under siege. While he was away, I stepped up my plan to leave. The weather forecast said that it would rain in five days—and that would be the day I left the Hawthorne Pack. Alpha Ethan was back, and he brought Lila Blackwood back to the pack villa. “Where have you been? The housekeeper said you always go out recently.” I greeted him. Alpha Ethan looked at me who had just entered the door with an unhappy face. I took out the herbal medicine bag in my hand and shook it. “I just found a human pharmacist with good skills. Just when you are back, I will make it for you to soak your feet in the evening,” I explained. His eyes looked at the medicine bag for a moment. “Yeah,” he replied casually. My tense heart relaxed immediately and I handed the medicine bag to the housekeeper and walked over to push him naturally. Unexpectedly, I was pushed away by the woman behind him—Lila Blackwood. “Ava, this is Lila, the private Healer that Declan hired for me. She will arrange my daily care in the future, just listen to her instructions.”

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After three years as Alpha Darian’s wish-slave, Lyra’s nightmare peaks when he snarls, “Abort the pup—Seraphina’s the only Luna my legacy needs.” Betrayed as a “filthy surrogate,” she’s forced to endure a brutal abortion ritual while he offers her to Kael, her childhood protector: “Take her. She’s just defective Omega trash.” But Lyra claws for freedom: the Blood Moon Pact demands 100 wishes to break free—she’s granted 97. When Seraphina smirks, “Retrieve Darian’s ring from Moon Lake,” Lyra’s resolve hardens: “Three wishes left. Then I’m gone.” Darian sneers, “Prove you’re useful,” blind to her countdown. Kael pleads, “Moonveil awaits—you don’t have to go back,” but Lyra’s trapped in a deadly game: 98 wishes down, two to go. One wrong move, and Darian’s obsession will destroy her. Chapter 1 “For three twilight cycles, I walked beside Alpha Darian Voss, devoting myself to him each twilight as the Blood Moon Pact bound us.” Not until the scent of new life clung to my fur did he concede to the Bonding Rite, oath of eternal devotion echoing in the hollow of my ear. Before the moon could rise again, the pact shattered. Dawn found him dragging me to the Pack Healer’s den, hackles raised as he snarled for the pup extraction ritual. “Erase it,” he commanded, silver pupils cold as the northern tundra. “No Omega-tainted blood will bear my legacy—only Beta Seraphina Moore deserves that honor.” I swallowed the growl rising in my throat, pleading for the life stirring within. The truth emerged like a broken bone: his first love had returned, her scent overriding all else. That was when the insults began—“filthy surrogate,” “a burden he couldn’t shake,” each word a claw to my heart. But he forgot one truth: I was never here for love. The Blood Moon Pact demanded 100 wishes to break free, and I’d already granted 97. Three more, and I could return to Moonveil Pack, where my real life awaited. – “Even if you whelp that half-breed, it’ll be an outcast, unwanted by pack or moon,” the same Alpha who’d vowed starlight and devotion just nights before now bared his fangs in the Healer’s den. “You’ll do as I say, won’t you, Beta?” I studied him, marveling at the madness in his gaze—the same gaze that had once softened at my scent. My mind flickered to the moment I’d told him of the pup, his tail wagging, promises of a shared den spilling from his lips. Shoving the ache aside, I met his stare. “Does this count as Wish 97?” Many of his wishes had been the same—orders to nuzzle his neck, to whisper I belonged to him. I’d once hinted that after 100 wishes, I’d leave, but stayed for the warmth of his fur. Now, my words were a curse. “Spare me the pact nonsense,” he snapped. “You were always Seraphina’s shadow, nothing more.” “Then Wish 97 it is,” I said, voice steady as the moon’s orbit. “I’ll do as you command.” Darian froze, unaccustomed to such easy compliance from the Beta who’d once challenged his every order. On the cold stone slab of the Healer’s altar, I felt the silver-tipped needle pierce my paw, the toxin burning through my veins. The agony of losing the pup was nothing to the betrayal—he stood outside, scent mingling with Kael’s, the Beta who’d always watched over me. “Ensure Seraphina never catches wind of this,” Darian murmured. “She’s the only Luna this pack will ever know.” At six moons pregnant, I could still sense the tiny heartbeat fading. *Why bind yourself to me if your heart belongs to another?* Kael’s voice cut through the den’s silence, sharp as a blade. “And Lyra? You’d destroy a life she’s carried half a year for a she-wolf who left you?” “Seraphina was stolen from me,” Darian hissed. “Lyra’s presence is repayment for those lost years. Now do as I say—erase the evidence.” All knew Kael carried a torch for me, his loyalty to Shadowriver Pack a thin veil for his true allegiance: Moonveil, my birth pack. Darian’s laugh was a low, dangerous rumble. “Keep her if you want. She’s nothing but a defective Beta, reeking of Omega weakness.” Chapter 2 Learning I was a mere substitute tore at my soul deeper than any claw. Every tender moment, every shared howl at the moon—lies, all of it. I was a placeholder, a vessel for his unfulfilled love. As I lay in the Healer’s den, blood staining the straw bedding, he stood outside, offering me as a prize to Kael. “She’s yours, if you’ll have her. Bet she’d follow you anywhere, desperate for a real Alpha.” Once, a single growl from Darian would’ve sent Kael retreating. Now, I was chattel, to be bartered and discarded. Gazing at the tiny, still form beside me, I clenched my jaw. *Three wishes left. Focus on the pact.* The Blood Moon Pact was clear: 100 wishes to break free. Darian had saved me as a cub, and I’d repaid him faithfully, even as my Omega bloodline—hidden, but never forgotten—threatened to surface. After the ritual, Kael placed a warm herb pouch on my brow, his touch gentle, scent calming. “Drink this,” he said, but my eyes were on Darian, already striding toward the den’s entrance. “Done playing your little game, Lyra?” Darian called over his shoulder. “No need to pretend devotion now. Seraphina’s return makes your charade obsolete.” I ignored the herbal brew, rising on shaky legs. “Wish 96 was your demand I attend the den’s gathering. Fulfilled. Now I go.” Darian sneered, but Seraphina’s scent preceded her, sweet and cloying, as she stepped into the den. There she was—the reason for every scar, every broken vow. Her fur was sleek, ears tipped with silver, a perfect mirror of the Beta he’d always wanted. His posture softened at the sight of her, a betrayal more painful than the ritual. “Seraphina, my love—” “Save it,” I said, voice low. “I’ve come to fulfill the wish, nothing more.” Seraphina smirked, eyeing my bloodied paws. “Rough night, Beta? I heard you had an… accident.” Her gaze dropped to my midriff, mock sympathy dripping from her words. “Such a shame. Darian did say you were clumsy with pups.” I turned to leave, but her next words froze me. “Oh, and Lyra—Darian’s family heirloom went missing in the Moon Lake. A little trinket, but dear to him. I’m sure you’d want to retrieve it, being the dutiful pact-bound Beta you are.” Her tone made it clear: this was a test, a display of her newfound power. Darian stepped forward, blocking my path, scent a chaotic mix of guilt and urgency. “Seraphina’s right. The Moonstone Ring—” “Is this Wish 98, then?” I interrupted, too weary for games. He hesitated, then nodded, the Alpha in him refusing to admit weakness even now. “Yes. Retrieve the ring, Lyra. Prove you’re still useful.” I met his gaze one last time, memorizing the silver of his eyes—the same eyes that had once made me believe in forever. Now, they were just another reminder of the lie I’d lived. “Very well, Alpha,” I said, bowing my head in mock deference. “As you wish.” The cold of Moon Lake bit through my fur as I waded in, stones cutting my paws. Below the surface, the ring glimmered, but something else lingered—a faint, familiar scent, like ozone and moonlight, the scent of home. *Almost free.* When I surfaced, ring in hand, Darian’s expression was not one of gratitude, but revulsion. “Stop playing the martyr,” he snapped. “You’re no hero—just a Beta fulfilling her duty.” Seraphina took the ring, smirking as she slipped it onto her paw. “Such dedication, Lyra. Almost makes me jealous.” I said nothing, turning to leave. The pain in my paws was nothing to the clarity blooming in my chest: three wishes left, and then—no more Darian, no more Shadowriver Pack, no more pretending to be something I wasn’t. Kael met me at the den’s edge, offering a steadying paw. “You don’t have to go back in there,” he said, voice low, earnest. “Moonveil Pack awaits you, Lyra. Your real family.” I smiled faintly, though my heart ached. “Not yet, Kael. Three wishes remain. Then… then I can finally breathe.” He nodded, understanding in his gaze—the gaze of a fellow Moonveil wolf, my childhood protector, now offering a lifeline I wasn’t yet ready to grasp. Behind us, Darian and Seraphina’s laughter rang out, a harsh melody of betrayal and delusion. But their voices faded as I focused on the pact’s countdown: 98 wishes fulfilled, two more to go. The moon rose overhead, casting long shadows on the path ahead. For the first time in three years, hope stirred—faint, but unbroken. Soon, the past would be nothing but a scar, and I’d return to the pack where I belonged, where I was more than a substitute: I was Lyra Blackwood, Beta of Moonveil, and no Alpha’s wish would chain me forever. Chapter 3 Darian’s snarl followed me as I emerged from the lake, water dripping from my sodden fur, the Moonstone Ring clutched in my trembling paw. The cold had seeped into my bones, but the burn of his disdain was hotter—*disgust*, not concern, flaring in his silver eyes. “Stop wallowing, Beta,” he snapped, tail lashing. “You’re not a tragic heroine—just a tool fulfilling its purpose.” Seraphina purred as she took the ring, her wolfbone earrings clinking like shattered ice. “Such dedication, Lyra. I almost feel sorry for you.” Her words dripped with false sympathy, but her scent—sharp, triumphant—betrayed her. I dropped the ring into her paw, ignoring the sting of gravel in my wounded pads. “Wish 98 is fulfilled, Alpha.” My voice was steady, but inside, something cracked. *Two wishes left.* Darian’s lip curled, as if my compliance offended him. Once, he’d praised my resilience; now, it was a flaw, a reminder that I wasn’t the fragile Beta he wanted Seraphina to be. The next three sunrises blurred into a haze of pain and silence. I holed up in the Healer’s den, Kael bringing me herbal poultices for my paws, his presence a quiet reassurance. But even his soothing scent couldn’t mask the rumors swirling through Shadowriver Pack: *Seraphina’s past, a forbidden Blood Moon Ritual video, her scent lingering on a Northern Alpha’s fur.* Then came the notification—a grainy clip circulating on PackNet, a she-wolf with Seraphina’s sleek silver fur and telltale earring performing a ritual meant for mated pairs. The comments burned: *“Is that Shadowriver’s future Luna?” “Beta Lyra looks just like her—coincidence?”* Darian burst into the den, scent a storm of panic and fury. “You’ll take the blame,” he ordered, paw slamming into the stone wall. “Claim it’s you in the video. Now.” I stared at him, the man who’d once vowed to protect me from harm. “Is this Wish 99, Alpha?” His jaw clenched. “Yes. Do it, and I’ll make the scandal disappear. Seraphina’s joining the Northern Council—she can’t have this stain.” Kael stepped forward, hackles raised. “You can’t ask this of her, Darian. The scent match is too precise—” “Silence, Beta,” Darian snarled, though Kael was no ordinary Beta. His Moonveil star-marked paw pads glowed faintly, a silent warning, but Darian was blind to anything but his obsession. I stood, steadying myself on Kael’s shoulder. “Very well. But after this, only one wish remains.” The Scent Forgery Ceremony was a violation worse than the pup extraction. In the Pack Hall, under the watch of elders, I let Darian inject Seraphina’s gland secretions into my neck, the toxin burning as my scent shifted to mimic hers. My silver crescent mark throbbed—it rejected the falsehood. Before the assembled pack, I lied: “I am the wolf in the video. I… I betrayed the pack’s trust.” The words tasted like ash, but Seraphina’s smirk across the hall was a blade to my gut. The crowd erupted in growls—*“Traitor!” “Unclean Beta!”*—but Darian’s nod was all that mattered. He’d saved Seraphina, as always.

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Luna Seraphina Hale thought 66 proposals from Alpha Derek Voss meant forever—until his childhood rogue companion, Violet, became his first choice, every time. “Use a card,” he’d dismiss, handing over embossed tokens like they erased his neglect. By the 64th card, fresh from ectopic surgery, he ordered her to apologize for Violet’s public tantrum—while tenderly fixing Violet’s hair. His “gift” that night? Blood-stained sheets, not her favorite pastries: “She can’t touch cold water.” His texts to Violet betrayed indifference: “Lily handles chores.” When he blew off their night with a bored “use a card,” Seraphina shattered their engagement mug—and their bond. “No more cards,” she messaged, attaching divorce papers. This Luna wasn’t begging for scraps. Let him drown in Violet’s lies; she’d stamp the final cards on a future he no longer shared. Chapter 1 Alpha Derek Voss had planned 66 romantic trips to propose to me, Luna Seraphina Hale. On the 67th attempt, beneath the shimmering lights of a rooftop banquet, I finally yielded to the sincerity in his gaze and whispered “yes.” Our wedding day dawned with a vow I thought unshakable—but by nightfall, I placed 66 “forgiveness cards” in his hands, each embossed with the faint scent of moonflowers, a scent only wolves could detect. “Each card is a thread in our bond,” I told him. “Use them wisely.” For six years, the scent of Rogue Violet Crow—Derek’s childhood companion—lingered in our den, each time he chose her over me. With every argument, he’d press a card into my palm, the embossing fading as our connection frayed. By the 64th card, my demeanor shifted. I no longer snarled at their too-close touches or flinched when he canceled pack gatherings for her. When he turned to leave for her den yet again, I simply asked: “If you go, may I mark a card?” His reply was careless: “Do as you wish—plenty remain. ” He failed to notice the tremble in my hand, or that only two cards stayed in the box. The night of the pack alliance banquet fell on the seventh moon after my ectopic pregnancy surgery. Rogue Violet, her eyes glinting with challenge, smashed a honey-caked pastry into Beta Gideon Rhett’s chest—the visiting Alpha of a neighboring pack. Derek’s first growl was for her: “Are you harmed?” Before I could recover from the scent of cinnamon and anger on the air, he turned to me, voice sharp: “Seraphina, apologize.” I stared at him, the pain from my still-healing midriff a dull throb. Gideon’s fur bristled, his Beta status demanding respect, but Violet clung to Derek’s arm, tears pooling in her lashes as if *she* were the injured one. “The one at fault hides behind others,” Gideon rumbled, pawing at his soiled tunic. Derek’s grip on Violet tightened, his Alpha command leaving no room for debate: “Apologize. Now.” He forgot—or chose to ignore—that moonflower tea, not alcohol, should be on my lips, the surgery leaving my body vulnerable to wolfsbane in spirits. Violet’s smirk cut through the air—she knew the power she held, the way Derek’s protective instincts flared for her, the way he’d throw me to the pack’s judgment. “One forgiveness card,” he murmured, low enough for only my wolf hearing. It was a hollow offering, a relic of the man who’d once hunted stars for me. I bowed to Gideon, the scent of humiliation bitter on my tongue, and as I did, Derek’s paw brushed Violet’s hair, a tender gesture he’d not spared me in moons. “Next time, watch yourself—what if you’d struck stone?” Her giggle was a blade: “You’ve always been my shield, Derek.” *Before*—a time when his shields were mine. The wound in my belly ached in rhythm with my wolf’s whimper. *Two cards left*, I reminded myself. *Two chances for him to see me*. After the banquet, Derek dismissed me with a cold glance: “Return home. Violet sprained her paw—I’ll take her to the Healer.” His eyes, once warm for me, now glowed with concern for her. In days past, I might have pleaded, shown him my bandages, demanded he choose. Now, I simply dipped my head, the scent of his indifference heavier than the storm brewing outside. “Be cautious,” he said, softer now, as if soothing a pup. I didn’t tell him caution had died with the 64th card. Chapter 2 No sooner had his words fallen than Violet threaded her arm through his, her frame delicate against his broad chest—*my* Alpha’s chest. Derek’s suit jacket, still carrying my scent, draped over her shoulders as he lifted her into the passenger seat, a care I hadn’t felt in seasons. “Stay still,” he rumbled, before finally glancing my way: “We grew up as pack siblings, Seraphina. You know there’s no bond between us.” I forced a smile, the word “siblings” a lie even his wolf should smell. “You used a card,” I said. “All is… forgiven.” His hesitation was brief, Violet’s whimper drawing him back. The engine roared, and they were gone, leaving me alone under the ironwood tree, its leaves whispering secrets of better days. At our den, I found the forgiveness cards strewn on the oak table—once locked in his Alpha vault, now carelessly abandoned. The 64th card received my mark, and beneath it, the divorce papers—parchment scented with wolfsbane to ward off his tracking—lay waiting. I called Elder Malcolm Thorne, my former mentor, his wisdom a steadying force. “Divorce?” he asked, his voice a low growl of surprise. “You two were the Moon’s favorite tale.” *What happened?* His question lingered as I traced the edge of the last two cards. It had begun with stolen glances at Violet’s den, with nights he smelled of her jasmine soap, with the day I found their paw prints tangled on a forbidden trail. “The bond is broken,” I said. “He forgets I am Luna—not a scribe to tally his mistakes.” Elder Malcolm sighed, a sound like wind through ancient pines. “I’ll send a Pack Law specialist. You deserve better than a mate who treats forgiveness as a game.” Before I could reply, Derek entered, a pastry bag in hand—*my* favorite bakery’s scent, but tainted by jasmine. “Who called?” he asked, eyes narrowing. “Elder Malcolm—research,” I lied. He dropped the bag, his scent turning sharp. “Research at this hour?” I opened the bag, expecting the cinnamon rolls of our courtship, but instead found a blood-stained dress and crumpled sheets—Violet’s. “Her moon cycle—she can’t handle cold water,” he said, voice firm. “You understand, as a Luna.” I stared at him, the irony bitter: I, too, was forbidden cold water, yet he’d never fetched *my* herbs, never asked the Healer about my recovery. “Use a card if you’re annoyed,” he added, already sinking into the couch, oblivious to the way my nails bit into my palms. *One card left*, I thought, watching him scroll through his phone, no doubt messaging Violet. *One chance for him to see*.

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While staying by Alpha Riven’s side for eight years, I also had to raise the little wolf pup born to him and my deceased sister. Enduring constant humiliation and bullying from his mistress and their pup, I finally left the pack that brought me nothing but disgrace and lies. I returned to inherit the Crowhurst Pack—but there was a condition. I had to bond with Alpha Caelum, a man who had lost his mother in a tragic accident, was mentally unstable, and born without a wolf spirit. Ironically, he was also Alpha Riven’s half-brother. I thought Alpha Caelum was a cripple… until one day, he stood up. Ravenna’s POV I took a deep breath before answering the phone, “I’m ready to fulfill your condition and take my rightful place as the heiress,” I said, before hanging up abruptly. The weight of my decision hit me, but I knew it was the only way forward. Staring at the room that had been my sanctuary for eight long years, I felt a bittersweet smile tug at my lips. Years of devotion, patience, and love had led me here—empty-handed. My heart pulsed with the same bitter ache that had echoed through me for so long, the same ache that the wolves called the weight of a bond never realized. A piercing voice broke the silence, sharp and angry. “How dare you wear my mother’s dress!” Corvin’s words were like a slap in the face, and I turned to face him, fighting the urge to bare my teeth at him. His eyes were full of fury, but I had long since stopped caring. “You’re not going to respond?” He snarled again, his voice dripping with venom. I took a slow breath, controlling the beast inside me, the part of me that wanted to shift and rip him apart. “Go to your celebration, Corvin. Your pack is waiting for you.” My words were soft, laced with the weariness of someone who had fought too many battles with those who never saw her as a true part of their pack. “No!” He roared, fury dancing in his eyes as he grabbed the pitcher from the table, and with a swift motion, splashed the hot contents all over me. The burn hit me like a punch to the chest. “This is what you deserve!” He spat. “You can never replace my mother! You killed her with your jealousy and now you wear her dress like it’s your right!” His words were poison, each one a reminder of everything I’d lost and could never have again. I screamed, the heat of the coffee searing my skin, but I knew better than to fight back. The sting on my body was nothing compared to the sting in my heart. A maid rushed in, gasping at the sight of my scalded skin and coffee-stained clothes. “I’m so sorry, Miss Ravenna. Corvin ran off again. Let me take him away,” she quickly said, her voice trembling. As they scurried off, I stood there, feeling the rage of my wolf slowly subside, replaced by the cold numbness of defeat. That dress…it had never been Elspeth’s. It had been mine—given to me by my mother before her passing. But Elspeth had taken it, just like she had taken everything else from me. I sighed heavily as I stepped into the shower. The familiar sting of the hot water was nothing compared to the ache inside, the ache of losing everything I had ever wanted. Eight years ago, I was supposed to marry Alpha Riven Grimsbane, the Alpha who was once my childhood sweetheart, the one I thought I’d build a life with. But it all shattered when he chose Elspeth over me. She was the one who carried his bloodline forward, and their son, Corvin, became the focus of all their attention. But Elspeth died during childbirth, and I was blamed for it, accused of killing her out of jealousy. The truth, however, was far darker. As the only sister of the deceased, I had been forced to stay in their home and care for Corvin. I had been instructed by my stepmother to treat him as my own son. But the role I was given felt like a cage—no love, no respect, just the cruel reminder that my place was never as anything more than a mere servant. For eight years, I poured everything into Corvin, raised him, loved him, but nothing ever changed. Alpha Riven never loved me. He was a wolf who had chosen his pack over me, his mate over his promise. I had been a fool to believe otherwise. But the truth was clear now. I had no place in this house except as a discarded concubine. Every action from Alpha Riven, every word from Corvin, reminded me of my insignificant position in their lives. As I stepped out of the shower, the sound of Alpha Riven’s voice pulled me back into reality. “The celebration is starting. Where are you, Ravenna?” He called out, his voice full of authority, like the Alpha he was meant to be. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before exiting the bathroom. He entered just as I had finished drying off. His eyes immediately fell on the coffee stains, and I saw the disappointment flicker across his face. “I heard what Corvin did. Don’t take it to heart,” Alpha Riven said, his voice soft but laced with a warning. “He’s still just a boy, and he does care about you.” I scoffed. “That child knows nothing of love. Not when it comes to me.” My words were sharp, a bitter truth I had come to accept long ago. His face tightened. “Don’t say that, Ravenna. He’s a good boy.” I turned away, ignoring the way his presence made my skin crawl, and grabbed the soothing balm from the nightstand. I applied it to my scalded skin, the ointment cooling the burn. It would heal by morning, just like my heart had learned to heal over the years. “Let me help you, Ravenna.” Alpha Riven’s voice broke through the silence, and before I could stop him, he took the balm from my hands and began to rub it into the inflamed skin. A few years ago, I would have melted at his touch, but now, it just made my skin crawl. “You don’t get it, do you?” I muttered under my breath, but he didn’t hear me. His breath was warm against my neck as he whispered, “You have to be patient with him.” I jerked away, feeling the familiar pull of the wolf that wanted to fight back, to push him away. “I need to tell you something,” I said, my voice hard. Alpha Riven frowned. “Can’t it wait? The birthday celebrations are starting.” “No, it can’t,” I said, my voice steady, the decision clear in my heart. “Today marks the eighth year. I’m leaving. I’m done.” Alpha Riven stared at me, confusion and disbelief written on his face. But I had made my choice. There was no going back now.

Ravenna’s Pov “What nonsense are you spewing now?” Alpha Riven’s voice rumbled like thunder, shaking the very air between us. The tension in the room was palpable, but I stood my ground, unflinching under his piercing gaze. “It’s been eight years, Alpha Riven,” I declared, my voice steady, yet edged with finality. “I’m leaving.” Alpha Riven’s features twisted in a snarl, his wolfish anger rising to the surface. His aura pressed down on me, almost suffocating. “Why are you making a fuss now? Corvin’s just a cub. Don’t take his childish antics to heart. Today is his birthday. Come along, don’t be difficult. I’ll deal with him later.” Before I could respond, his hand clamped around mine, tugging me toward the door. I yanked my hand away, my eyes cold as I faced him. “You promised me, Alpha Riven. When Corvin turned eight, I was free to go. Why am I making a fuss?” As I spoke, a voice sliced through the thick air, sharp and biting. “Ravenna, how dare you cause such a scene? You always manage to steal the spotlight, even on a day meant for my grandson!” I didn’t need to turn around to recognize Sara’s voice. She was the one who had struck the deal with Alpha Riven, promising me freedom once Corvin turned eight. So why was she now making such a racket? “I’m not stealing anything, Sara,” I shot back, my words laced with ice. “You were the one who said I could leave after eight years.” Her lips twisted into a venomous sneer. “On Corvin’s birthday, Ravenna? You couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” Alpha Riven intervened, his voice too smooth, too calculated. “It’s fine, Sara. Ravenna didn’t mean to disrupt things.” I could see through him now. Years ago, I would’ve believed it, but now I knew his words were just an empty attempt to keep me by his side, trapped in this unending cycle. “Come, let’s go join the party,” Alpha Riven said, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice. I didn’t protest, letting him lead me into the crowded celebration. Corvin and his friends were already in the middle of their chaos, but as soon as Corvin saw me, his face hardened, turning to stone. “Look, Corvin,” one of his friends called, “Your mother is here.” Corvin’s lip curled in disgust. “She’s not my mother.” The sting of his words didn’t pierce my heart like they used to. Now, I stood unmoving, only watching as Alpha Riven sighed deeply, pulling Corvin into line. “We don’t speak like that, Corvin. Ravenna is your mother now. She’s taken care of you like her own.” Corvin’s face contorted with rage. “She’s not my mother! She killed my mother!” His voice cracked with fury as he pointed at me, accusing me before the entire room. Whispers rippled through the hall, the guests’ eyes darting to me like I was some kind of pariah. “She’s the boy’s aunt.” “Why does he act like that toward her?” “Obviously, she’s done something wrong. He doesn’t like her…” Alpha Riven’s booming voice cut through the murmur of voices. “Apologize to Ravenna, Corvin!” I raised my hand, stopping him in his tracks. “Let him be, Alpha Riven. It doesn’t matter anymore.” Without a word, I turned and walked out of the room, my steps composed but my mind swirling. In the past, Corvin’s words would have crushed me. But now, I was numb to his hatred, numb to the way Alpha Riven’s love always belonged to someone else. “Why would you cause a scene on his birthday, Ravenna?” Sara’s shrill voice echoed behind me, and I turned to face her, my expression neutral. “What do you want, Sara?” I said, my voice dripping with exhaustion. “I’ve fulfilled my duty for eight years. I’m done.” Her eyes narrowed with disdain as she took a step closer. “You should treat Corvin like your son. Endure his fits, care for him as if he’s your flesh and blood. If my daughter were alive, she’d have handled him better.” I gave a nonchalant shrug, the bitterness of the situation settling in. “Pity, your daughter is dead.” Without warning, Sara’s hand shot out, aiming for my cheek. But I caught her wrist effortlessly, my grip like iron. “Don’t try it, Sara. I’m not in the mood for this. Eight years ago, you forced me to come here and care for them. The contract is over. Corvin is eight. I have every right to leave.” She jerked her hand away, glaring at me as she rubbed her wrist. “Do whatever you want, Ravenna,” she hissed, “No one will ever love you. Not even your father.” She turned on her heel and stormed off. A hollow smile twisted on my lips as I watched her leave. It had been eight years since I’d last seen my father. Ever since his beloved daughter had died, he’d sent me away and never looked back. “I’m sorry, Ravenna. I brought you a gift.” A quiet voice broke my thoughts, and I turned to see Corvin standing there, holding a small, neatly wrapped box. His innocent smile was almost too much to bear. “You shouldn’t have,” I said, my voice flat, though I could see the hint of irony behind my words. Corvin giggled, a light, almost playful sound. “I wanted to. Please, open it.” With a shrug, I unwrapped the box. The moment I opened it, an overpowering stench hit me. Inside was the lifeless body of my cat, an arrow lodged through its heart. “That will be you, if you don’t leave me and my father alone,” Corvin said, his voice dripping with sick amusement, his eyes gleaming with a chilling intent. Chapter 3 Ravenna’s Pov I was mortified staring at my only pet that I had been allowed to bring to the pack mansion nestled deep in Bloodpine Forest, the ancestral land of the Moonclaw Pack. The same way I have taken care of Corvin. The air was sharp with winter frost, my Beta senses pricking at every sound, but all I could hear was my own heartbeat—and Corvin’s angry growl. “Don’t mess with me and don’t get my father upset with me!” Corvin snapped, his wolf aura flickering in his eyes, golden like his father’s. I watched as he stomped off while I stared at the arrow in my cat’s body. A silver-tipped arrow. Wolf-forged, cruel, precise. Fate is indeed mocking me because I was the one who taught Corvin how to shoot arrows. I taught Corvin everything he knows and now he’s using it against me. I cradled the box as I stared at Lin Lin, my best friend, and a single tear slipped from my eyes. “Why are you out in the cold, Ravenna? Don’t get sick on me!” Alpha Riven Grimsbane’s deep voice carried through the thick wooden door, laced with command and concern. He immediately stood behind me as he draped me with his jacket, his scent—pine and steel—enveloping me in a wave of unwelcome familiarity, which I shrugged off. “What’s wrong?” he queried. His face twisted in slight disgust when he saw the dead cat in the box. “Your son came to apologize,” I stated. Alpha Riven’s frown deepened, “He’s your son too.” I scoffed, “He hates me, Alpha Riven! He killed my cat.” “Come now, let’s go inside. I’ll have a talk with him in the morning, and you can bury the cat tomorrow. I’m sure he was just messing around and it was a silly prank,” Alpha Riven said. I shrugged away from him as I carried the cat and headed into the garden. The moon above was nearly full—another cruel reminder that I wasn’t his Luna, only his obligation. I wasn’t going to let my cat stay out all night for some animal to poke at him. Alpha Riven followed me, complaining about how I was being stubborn, but he stayed with me while I buried Lin Lin. When I was done, I went inside. The party was over, and the guests had all gone home. The pack house was silent now, except for the distant howls echoing through the valley. It was already late and windy. I sneezed just as Alpha Riven held me. We got to my room, and he sat me down on his lap. His touch no longer warmed me—it burned like an unwanted bond. I cringed inwardly. “What do you want?” I snapped. Alpha Riven sighed, “What’s wrong, Ravenna? I’ll get you a new cat.” “I want to leave, Alpha Riven. Tomorrow,” I stated. Alpha Riven tensed. A flicker of Alpha command slipped into his gaze, but I held mine, refusing to submit. “Corvin is a child. I don’t trust anyone to take care of him except you. Besides, where do you want to go? It’s not like you have anyone else.” I shrugged, “I’ll worry about that. I have no place here. You have refused to marry me after eight years.” Alpha Riven sighed, “I already told you, Ravenna, I can’t take another mate now.” “I’m not asking you to. In fact, I don’t want to marry you. I just want to leave.” “Okay, why don’t you have a child for me? That way I can secure your future and that of your child. If you have a child for me, no one would dare say a bad word against you. And then Corvin will have a little sibling.” I smiled sadly. I had reduced myself to nothing and discarded my pride and yet eight years still he wants me to have an illegitimate child for him. All this just to protect Corvin and keep me in the same house as him. “I’ve instructed the maid everything she needs to know about Corvin. He’s homeschooled, so you can get the best tutors for him or send him to school. He doesn’t need me again,” I stated. Alpha Riven kissed me, his lips cold despite the heat of his wolf. “Sleep on it and tell me how you feel in the morning.” That night I didn’t sleep a wink. I packed my luggage and I kept seeing the face of Lin Lin. In my dreams, Lin Lin ran under moonlight… until the arrow struck again. Morning came sooner than expected, and after a quick shower, I dragged my suitcases outside. It was finally happening. I was leaving. But of course, I wasn’t going to leave in peace. A slow clap echoed through the courtyard, followed by a familiar, mocking voice. “Well, well, well,” Kiera’s shadowed voice cut through the early dawn fog. She leaned against the stone pillar of the eastern gate, her Beta aura bristling beneath her flawless skin. “Have you finally come to your senses?” I sighed. Kiera, my Alpha Riven’s mistress, always knew when to strike with her venomous charm. Corvin adored her. She never let me forget it. I ignored her and kept walking, but she stepped into my path, tilting her head in amusement. “Eight years, Ravenna,” she continued, crossing her arms. “Eight years of playing house, of waiting for an Alpha who never claimed you. And now, after all that time, you’re finally leaving.” She chuckled. “Took you long enough to realize that Alpha Riven and Corvin will never love you. You’ve been nothing but a worthless concubine.” I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. “Enjoy it, then,” I said simply. “Do whatever you want. None of this concerns me anymore.” Her smirk widened. “Oh, I will. Don’t worry,” she whispered. “Soon, I’ll move in and take your place.” Before I could respond, the front doors swung open. Alpha Riven stepped out, followed closely by Corvin. And in an instant, Elspeth’s entire demeanor changed. She gasped dramatically and dropped to her knees, clutching the hem of my coat as if her life depended on it. “Ravenna, please!” she sobbed, her voice thick with desperation. “Please don’t go! Corvin needs you! You’ve been taking care of him all these years—how could you just leave him like this?” I stared down at her blankly. “Corvin loves you, he really does,” she continued, her voice cracking. “He’s just a child! Please, don’t leave him. I’m so sorry for everything, just please, Ravenna—”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296814”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I was born a wellspring of good fortune; simply being married to me, sharing intimacy, could amplify one’s luck. My husband, Julian, however, was a magnet for bad luck, a hex. Only I could nullify its devastating effects. For a lifetime, we spent countless nights baring our souls, our bodies intertwined. His fortune skyrocketed, his assets multiplied, building an immense business empire and making him the wealthiest man in the world. Yet, after enjoying a lifetime of luxury, the day he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he had me brutally beaten, my limbs shattered, and left me at the foot of a desolate tombstone. I was stunned, utterly horrified, but he just sneered, a cruel twist on his face: “All these years, I never loved you. The only one I ever loved was Seraphina!” Time had faded my memory; I couldn’t even recall who Seraphina was. All I could do was beg for mercy, but Julian mercilessly plunged a knife into my heart. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the very day Julian became the nation’s wealthiest man. A furious voice cut through the air: “Seraphina! Can you please just stay away from me? I don’t like you at all!” Watching the melodramatic scene unfold between the man and woman before me, I simply smiled: “Since your feelings are so strong, then by all means, stay.” This time, I was eager to see if, without my luck aura, Julian still had the resources to live happily ever after with Seraphina. 0

The moment my words left my lips, both of them, tangled together just moments before, froze. They clearly didn’t expect me to butt in like that, to utter such a thing. A moment later, Julian turned to me, his eyes flickering with a hint of doubt. I knew he didn’t believe I was being sincere. Reliving this life, having endured the betrayal of the last one… I’d already come to terms with the fact that Julian held no true love for me. No, he just wanted my body, playing a calculated part. As I pondered this, Julian resumed his act. “We’re not even in the same league, Seraphina. You’re just an intern doctor. Do you even realize the gap between us?” An intern doctor? At that, a long-buried memory surfaced in my mind. In my previous life, Julian had met an intern doctor at the hospital while he was admitted for an illness. Their relationship had clearly developed at lightning speed behind my back. By the time I found out, I’d already sensed something was off. But back then, I was far too naive. I intended to investigate, but Julian preemptively distanced himself entirely from that relationship. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I assumed it was just the intern doctor being overly persistent, so I naturally lowered my guard. But recalling it now, it was probably a carefully orchestrated charade by Julian himself. He might have already discovered I was investigating, so he reacted in advance. Thinking of this, all I felt was self-mockery. I couldn’t believe I’d been so foolish. Kept in the dark for so long, without the slightest inkling. Now, knowing the whole story, it was like a sudden epiphany, everything clicking into place. Fine, Julian. This time, I’ll grant your wish. Since you like Seraphina, I’ll step aside. A divorce is nothing; I have all the time in the world. I made my decision. My tragic death in the last life had left me utterly clear-headed now. I wasn’t about to jump into the same pit of fire twice. “Just leave. You’re not welcome here.” When I snapped back to reality, I heard Julian’s voice, his tone ice-cold. And I, without hesitation, cut in. “Julian, why are you being so heartless towards a girl? Is there anything wrong with her staying here?” “Anya, I don’t want her to affect our relationship.” “Oh? Is our relationship so fragile that one girl’s appearance can shatter it into pieces? Hah, well, in that case, she definitely doesn’t need to leave.” At this moment, I’d already anticipated the subsequent events. In my last life, I hadn’t stopped Julian. In fact, I continued to target Seraphina, which ultimately led to Seraphina’s death in a car accident. I suspected that this very incident was the cause of my eventual tragedy. Because of this, I had no intention of repeating my past mistakes. I even wanted to fulfill the desires of that toxic couple. But as my words fell, Julian’s expression subtly shifted, looking extremely serious. “Anya, she certainly can’t affect our relationship or our feelings. I just worry you’ll overthink things. You know I’m a man of integrity.” “Overthink? She’s not that important. You don’t need to drive anyone away for my sake. I don’t want people to think I’m petty and jealous.” With that final remark, I had no intention of meddling in their relationship any further. Yet, even so, Julian still swore to me, full of conviction. “Alright then, Anya. But I swear, Seraphina and I are completely innocent!” Watching Julian’s seemingly sincere expression, all I felt was sick to my stomach. 0

The charade ended soon after. I returned home alone to rest. By the time Julian and Seraphina came back, it was already deep into the night. I stood by the window, watching them downstairs. After a brief farewell, Seraphina left first. Julian, standing there seeing her off, looked utterly reluctant to part. The emotion in his eyes was like a torrent. It wasn’t until Julian saw me later that he reined it in. As if everything had just been my imagination. But now, I saw right through Julian. I was no longer the naive woman he could deceive and manipulate. “Anya, if you don’t like her, you really don’t have to keep her here for my sake.” Julian put on a show of considering my feelings. But I felt not a shred of gratitude. Hah, his words? Could they be trusted? I shook my head, then simply ignored him and returned to my room. But the next moment, Julian rushed in from behind me. Before I could react, he had me pinned to the bed. His eyes were filled with raw desire. But I’d already seen through Julian. And I knew that, from beginning to end, he only saw me as a tool to make money. Because of this, I almost instinctively pushed him away. “It’s not convenient these past few days.” I just made a quick excuse to brush him off. Julian’s face showed a hint of displeasure, but in the blink of an eye, he put on a happy expression. “Hmm, then another day. Oh, by the way, Anya, I’ve just become the wealthiest man in the nation, and it’s all thanks to your help. How about we throw a celebration party? I’ll let everyone know about all your hard work behind the scenes all these years?” Julian changed the subject. But I had no interest whatsoever in a so-called celebration party. I just mumbled a couple of vague replies. “We’ll see.” The night passed without a word. The next morning, a call from the hospital broke the silence. “Hello, Ms. Anya Reed. We’ve found a kidney donor for your Grandma.” At that, I rushed to the hospital in a frantic hurry. When I arrived, Grandma Helen was sitting by her hospital bed, as lively and cheerful as ever. “Sweetheart, why are you so sweaty? You’re so grown up, yet you’re still so clumsy and scatterbrained?” Grandma Helen’s tone carried a hint of scolding, but her eyes were full of concern. “I’m just so happy, Grandma! Do you know your illness can be cured? They found a matching kidney for you!” “I know, I know. Look how excited you are.” “Of course! Grandma, you’ve been in the hospital for so long, I’ve missed you so much! Oh, and for the surgery, you have to be ready…” “I know, I know. You nag more than an old woman! It’s just a small operation, don’t worry so much.” Grandma Helen stroked my hair, her face full of doting affection. Seeing her looking so relaxed, my worries gradually faded. In my last life, Grandma Helen’s surgery was incredibly successful. I remembered she had passed away peacefully in her sleep many years later. Because of this, I slowly let go of the anxiety in my heart. Meanwhile, Julian, who had accompanied me, also chimed in with some empty assurances. “Anya, Grandma’s always been tough as nails. Don’t worry, this surgery will go perfectly.” As Julian’s words fell, I suddenly felt a surge of unease for some reason. I turned to look at him. He still maintained a gentle and humble demeanor. But the more he did, the more panicked I became. Ultimately, I didn’t overthink it, and the surgery began soon after. I stood outside the operating room, waiting for several hours. Until the doctor opened the door and walked over to me, his face grim. “During the surgery, an unexpected rejection reaction occurred. The patient…” “Please prepare for the worst.” 0

For a moment, it felt like the world had lost all sound. Grandma Helen was dead? No way. In my previous life, her surgery was perfectly successful! Why? Why was this happening? “I’m sorry, we did our best.” “This isn’t about doing your best! Why is my grandma dead? You guaranteed me earlier that this surgical technique was very mature!” My mind replayed what he’d said about a rejection reaction. Why would this happen? My brain practically shut down. I felt like the very ground beneath me had vanished. At the same time, Grandma Helen’s hospital bed was wheeled out of the operating room. Her face was pale, and she looked utterly peaceful in her sleep. Seeing this, my tears wouldn’t stop flowing. But unexpectedly, a fleeting glance caught my eye: a doctor standing at the back of the crowd. She wore a mask, and her eyes darted away, but I instantly sensed something. Without a moment’s hesitation, I rushed forward, and the next second, I tore off her mask. “Seraphina, it’s you? Where’s the lead surgeon?!” I’d found the source of all this wrongness. And my furious questioning brought the entire crowd to a stunned silence. I finally understood the reason for Grandma Helen’s death. It was because I had indulged Seraphina, and it ultimately led to Grandma Helen’s demise! My original intention was just to expose their affair, but in the end, I lost the person who loved me most. It was all because of Seraphina! In an instant, my grief was consumed by rage. “Is this your hospital’s professional conduct? An intern doctor as the lead surgeon for an organ transplant?! You’re killing for profit!” My expression grew increasingly agitated. Just as everyone else was at a loss for what to do, Julian suddenly stepped in front of me. “Seraphina, what’s going on here? With your skill, an accident like this shouldn’t have happened!” Julian and Seraphina exchanged glances. Snapping back to reality, Seraphina quickly replied. “The rejection reaction was too strong this time, and the patient’s physical condition wasn’t good, which led to this tragedy. I’m very sorry.” Hearing this, Julian turned back to me, taking my hand and continuing. “Anya, I know Seraphina’s skills. No one wanted a tragedy like this to happen. I understand your grief right now, but rejection reactions are an inherent risk in transplant surgeries. Grandma Helen was old, and you know her physical condition. This time, even if we had an experienced surgeon, it might not have been successful. Don’t let this upset you too much and harm your own health.” Julian appeared to be seeking justice for me, but every word he spoke was an attempt to cover for Seraphina. And his lengthy defense gained the approval of most of the doctors and nurses present. Seeing this, I found it utterly laughable. With my previous life’s experience, how could I not guess the true situation? But to my dismay, the female nurses around me all stepped forward to defend Seraphina. “Mr. Hayes is right. This was purely an accident. Doctor Seraphina did her best at the first sign of rejection. She took every possible emergency measure. So, please, Ms. Reed, accept our condolences.” As more and more people started voicing their support for Seraphina, Julian eventually took me back home. But as soon as we arrived, Julian received a phone call. After glancing at it, he explained to me that it was work-related. He left the room, even stepping into the hallway before answering. He looked so careful and cautious, little did he know, I was listening in. “Julian, I’m scared something will go wrong.” Seraphina’s voice came from the other end of the line. “Don’t worry, I promise you, Anya won’t give you any trouble. It was just an accident; everyone thinks so. No one will suspect you.” “Every lead surgeon starts as an intern. You just got some early practice. You don’t need to blame yourself too much.” Hearing Julian’s reply, I froze instantly. In a daze, it felt like a vital thread, connecting us, suddenly snapped. That was the luck aura bound between us. I hadn’t expected that besides divorce, a broken heart could also sever the luck. At that moment, I regretted my decision to let Seraphina go even more. If only I had known, Grandma Helen might not have died… My heart turned to ash as I returned to my room. Soon after, Julian opened the door. His face was somber, and he immediately started comforting me. “Anya, don’t be too sad about Grandma Helen. It was purely a medical accident; the main reason wasn’t the doctors’ fault. Grandma Helen was old; it was to be expected.” He was defending Seraphina. I sneered inwardly but felt no surprise. Perhaps because of my silence, Julian changed the subject after a moment. “Anya, are you still coming to the celebration party?” Celebration party? I abruptly lifted my head, gritting my teeth. “Yes, of course, I’m coming.” Not only was I going, but I was going to see him fall from his pedestal. 0

Grandma Helen’s funeral arrangements were completed two days later. And today was also the celebration party Julian had prepared. I thought Julian would take me, but then I received a message from him on my phone. “Sorry, Anya, I have some company matters to handle today. Please take a cab there by yourself.” I’d seen excuses like this far too many times this week. Julian hadn’t even attended Grandma Helen’s funeral. He always claimed it was work issues. But in reality, he was just off seeing that wretched Seraphina. But I didn’t care. Julian and I had long since lost any affection for each other. All that was left was hatred. In the end, I didn’t bother to dress up. I checked the time and headed to the party venue. Soon after I entered, everyone around me turned their gazes my way. “Is that Mr. Hayes’s wife? She’s dressed so shabbily.” “I know, right? Her clothes are stained, and she smells faintly of smoke. I don’t know how Mr. Hayes ever fell for her. She doesn’t even deserve such a brilliant young man.” I heard every whisper around me. However, I felt no emotional stirring whatsoever. Not even being compared to someone else bothered me. I didn’t deserve Julian? Sorry, they had it all wrong. Suddenly, the crowd stirred. “Wow, is that the doctor who saved Mr. Hayes? She looks so elegant! Looking at them, they’re truly a match made in heaven! As for that so-called wife, she’s just a piece of trash!” Following everyone’s gaze, I saw Julian and Seraphina slowly approaching from a distance. And everyone in the room had their eyes fixed on Seraphina. They kept talking, comparing me to Seraphina. Julian didn’t stop them. In fact, his expression grew even more delighted with the compliments. It wasn’t until a moment later that Julian finally noticed my presence. Immediately, his smile vanished, and he walked towards me with a sorrowful, troubled look. “Anya, I’ve been so busy with work lately, I haven’t been able to pay attention to you. Please don’t be angry.” Hah, busy with work? You couldn’t bother with me, but you could bother with that cheap woman, Seraphina. Listening to Julian’s flimsy excuses, I didn’t even want to argue. He must have realized something, then quickly added. “As for Seraphina, I just ran into her on the way. She said she wanted to attend my celebration party, and of course, I couldn’t refuse. After all, you know she saved my life. But don’t worry, there’s only one leading lady tonight, and that’s you.” I glanced at Seraphina, who was standing not far away. She was wearing a luxurious gown, her entire demeanor refined and elegant, as if she were the center of attention. Anyone who didn’t know might have thought she was tonight’s main attraction. Thinking of this, I found Julian’s words even more laughable. The gown Seraphina was wearing, purely in terms of its purchase price, was astronomical. With her intern doctor’s salary, she definitely couldn’t afford such an expensive dress. So, it could only have come from Julian. Hah. He kept saying I was the lead, but behind my back, he was supporting another woman. Julian, do you honestly think I’m a complete idiot? He didn’t know what I was thinking. After his explanation, he began to mingle. Soon after, the banquet began. Julian, as the host, stood at the front of the stage, giving a speech. He spoke emotionally about his entrepreneurial journey and my silent contributions behind him all these years. If I hadn’t already seen through him, I might have even been moved. As the speech continued, Julian extended an invitation to me. He still looked at me with tender affection, his eyes filled with love. “Anya, thank you for all your silent contributions these past years. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. In the future, I will continue to work hard to grow this company, making it bigger and stronger, reaching global heights! And you, will you continue to walk this path with me?” Julian’s impassioned speech deeply resonated with the audience. However, as his last sentence fell, many onlookers expressed their displeasure. “Hah, does a woman like that even deserve Julian? What is she? She’s not even fit to carry his shoes!” “Exactly! Compared to Ms. Seraphina, she’s like heaven and earth! I have no idea how Julian ever liked her!” The crowd’s constant praising of Seraphina while putting me down made Seraphina, sitting in the middle of the room as if surrounded by stars, very pleased. A hint of smugness entered her gaze as she looked at me. But I didn’t care. I even thought, since everyone believes I don’t deserve Julian, Why don’t I just grant their wish? “I don’t.” My ice-cold reply stunned Julian for a moment. “What? She actually refused? Does this woman think she can do whatever she wants just because she has Mr. Hayes’s affection? Or is she out of her mind? Such a great opportunity, and she refuses? Doesn’t she look in the mirror and know her place?” “I think she’s just playing hard to get. This woman is so cunning! I knew Julian couldn’t possibly like her; looks like this b*tch really knows how to play games!” The people below looked incredulous. Clearly, they had never expected me to reject Julian’s proposal. But even so, the crowd continued to hurl insults at me. After a moment, Julian snapped back to reality. Just as he thought I was joking and wanted to inquire further, His assistant suddenly burst into the hall. “Boss, it’s bad! Our company’s stock has crashed!” 0Julian froze. A moment later, he came back to his senses and gasped, demanding to know. “Crashed! How is that possible! It was just fine a moment ago!”

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